The Health Minister Mr.Balbir Singh Sidhu said that now second dose of Covishield Vaccine will beadministered prior to prescribe time interval after 28 days to persons whoundertake international travel for specific purposes.
Health Minister saidthat the Punjab Government has taken up the issue with GoI several times toreduce the prescribed time of the second dose of the Covishield vaccine with a view toproviding full coverage to facilitate international travelers especiallystudents who are not covered in priority groups. He said that it wasunfortunate that because of unable to get full coverage of vaccination,students could not go overseas for their studies even after paying the heftyfees. The students and their parents are repeatedly urged the Punjab Governmentto reduce the gap between the second dose of Covishield from the 84 days.
Mr. Sidhu said that theMinistry of Health and Family Welfare has issued the recommendations such asPrescribed Time Interval (after 28 days but before 84 days) administration ofsecond dose of Covishield Vaccine, students who have to undertake foreigntravel for the purposes of education will be considered as eligiblebeneficiaries. Similarly, persons who have to take up jobs in foreigncountries, Athletes, Sportspersons and accompanying staff of Indian contingentattending International Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo.
Mr. Sidhu informed thatthese instructions have been issued to all Deputy Commissioners for furtheraction so that the maximum number of eligible beneficiaries to be vaccinated. Hesaid that a competent authority designated by District Administration shallcheck before according permission for the administration of the second dose before theperiod of 84 days after the date of the first dose. He said that the vaccinationcertificate may be issued by District Immunization Officer. These SoPs areapplicable for international travel for these specified purposes in the periodup to 31st August 2021.
He clarified that SoPshave been issued specifically only for Covishield because only the timeinterval between the 2 doses of Covishield has been increased from 6-8 weeks to12-16 weeks. The period for COVAXIN has remained the same as 4-6 weeks andhence there was no need for any special dispensation for 2nd dose of COVAXIN.
Giving details about the consignment of State’s procured Covishield & Covaxin to be received for agegroups of 18-44 during the month of June, he said that GoI will deliver 1,56,720doses on June 11, 1,30,160 on June 17, 1,56,720 on June 19 and 1,32,150 doseson July 1. In the same way, 25,000 doses of Covaxin will be received on June 20and 12,000 on June 23 and 19,370 doses on June 28. He said that 50,000 doses of Covaxin todayreceived from GoI.
He said that a total of5,75,750 doses of Covishield will be received in the next 23 days whereas 1,10,370doses of Covaxin in the next 20 days.
Disclosing the purchaseorder sent to Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech, Mr. Sidhu said that amount ofRs. 11,98,10,250 has paid for 3,80,350 doses of Covishield on May 25th and Rs.6,15,51,000 for 1,95,400 doses of Covishield on June 1. He said that Rs. 4,75,10,400has paid for 1,13,120 doses of Covaxin on June 1.
4,58,424 beneficiariesbetween the age group of 18 to 44 years administered with the first dose ofCovishied while 37,320 got the first jab of Covaxin, he said.
Notably, the Covaxinwhich has been allocated to Private Hospitals, for Students and other specialcases of international travel took back with immediate effect and allocated tothe Government Vaccination Centres to cover priority age groups of 18-44years.