When the situation turns distressing after rapidly surgingCOVID cases, Punjab Government is firing from all cylinders to effectivelytackle the situation but the state has left only 1.9 lac doses of vaccine dueto the lesser supply of the vaccine from the Government of India. Out of thisavailable stock, more than 1 lac doses expected to be used today.
While inaugurating the Guru Nanak Dev Dialysis Unit,Health Minister Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that, about 1.5 lac beneficiariesgot vaccinated as on 25 April and Chief Minister Punjab Captain Amarinder Singhhas already raised the alarming situation of Punjab due to increasing cases ofcoronavirus and demanded the regular supply of COVID-19 vaccine and oxygenfrom GoI.
Talking about the Covid vaccination drive, he said thatPunjab government is organizing vaccination at all the primary health centers andhealth wellness centers as well as special camps in the rural areas tofacilitate the people at their doorsteps where we have a capacity of vaccinatingmore than 3 lac beneficiaries easily.
He said that more than 30,05,083 people have beenvaccinated in Punjab so far under which a total of 26,82,393 vaccinated withfirst dose and 3,22,690 with the second dose.
He said that the Punjab Government has already appealedto the union, government to regularize the supply of vaccines in the state asthe trained staff and infrastructure provided by the Punjab government couldvaccinate 3 lakh people daily, requiring 15 lakh doses every week. He said thatthe health department had written a letter to the Union Ministry of Health onApril 22 demanding 10 lakh doses of vaccine.
He divulged the health department has received theintimation letter from GoI that they are sending only 1.5 lac doses ofCoviesheild vaccine against our demand by tomorrow.
Regarding the preparations for vaccination for peopleabove 18 years of age from May 1, he said that Punjab Chief Minister Capt.Amarinder Singh had asked the department to order 30 lakh covishield vaccinedoses.
Replying to a query regarding the shortage of oxygen, hesaid that the plants of the Punjab government were running at full capacitywhile the central government had reduced the liquid oxygen quota of Punjab.
Earlier, Mr. Sidhu inaugurated a dialysis unit set up byBaba Zorawar Singh, Baba Fateh Singh Seva Society at Civil Hospital Bholath ata cost of about Rs. 85 lakh. He lauded the contribution made by society andsaid that the need of the hour was to provide quality health care to thepeople. He also interacted with the patients who came for dialysis at theHospital.
On this occasion MLA. Mr. Navtej Singh Cheema, MLA Mr.Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Deputy Commissioner Mrs. Deepti Uppal, SSP Mrs.Kanwardeep Kaur IPS , Civil Surgeon Dr. Parminder Kaur, Congress leaderAmandeep Singh Gora Gill, Ranjit Singh Rana, SMO. Dr. Bholath Shalindar Singhand others were present.