The Health Minister Mr.
Balbir Singh Sidhu said that now second dose of Covishield Vaccine will be
administered prior to prescribe time interval after 28 days to persons who
undertake international travel for specific purposes.
Health Minister said
that the Punjab Government has taken up the issue with GoI several times to
reduce the prescribed time of the second dose of the Covishield vaccine with a view to
providing full coverage to facilitate international travelers especially
students who are not covered in priority groups. He said that it was
unfortunate that because of unable to get full coverage of vaccination,
students could not go overseas for their studies even after paying the hefty
fees. The students and their parents are repeatedly urged the Punjab Government
to reduce the gap between the second dose of Covishield from the 84 days.
Mr. Sidhu said that the
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued the recommendations such as
Prescribed Time Interval (after 28 days but before 84 days) administration of
second dose of Covishield Vaccine, students who have to undertake foreign
travel for the purposes of education will be considered as eligible
beneficiaries. Similarly, persons who have to take up jobs in foreign
countries, Athletes, Sportspersons and accompanying staff of Indian contingent
attending International Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo.
Mr. Sidhu informed that
these instructions have been issued to all Deputy Commissioners for further
action so that the maximum number of eligible beneficiaries to be vaccinated. He
said that a competent authority designated by District Administration shall
check before according permission for the administration of the second dose before the
period of 84 days after the date of the first dose. He said that the vaccination
certificate may be issued by District Immunization Officer. These SoPs are
applicable for international travel for these specified purposes in the period
up to 31st August 2021.
He clarified that SoPs
have been issued specifically only for Covishield because only the time
interval between the 2 doses of Covishield has been increased from 6-8 weeks to
12-16 weeks. The period for COVAXIN has remained the same as 4-6 weeks and
hence there was no need for any special dispensation for 2nd dose of COVAXIN.
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Giving details about the consignment of State’s procured Covishield & Covaxin to be received for age
groups of 18-44 during the month of June, he said that GoI will deliver 1,56,720
doses on June 11, 1,30,160 on June 17, 1,56,720 on June 19 and 1,32,150 doses
on July 1. In the same way, 25,000 doses of Covaxin will be received on June 20
and 12,000 on June 23 and 19,370 doses on June 28. He said that 50,000 doses of Covaxin today
received from GoI.
He said that a total of
5,75,750 doses of Covishield will be received in the next 23 days whereas 1,10,370
doses of Covaxin in the next 20 days.
Disclosing the purchase
order sent to Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech, Mr. Sidhu said that amount of
Rs. 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. 4,75,10,400
has paid for 1,13,120 doses of Covaxin on June 1.
4,58,424 beneficiaries
between the age group of 18 to 44 years administered with the first dose of
Covishied while 37,320 got the first jab of Covaxin, he said.
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Notably, the Covaxin
which has been allocated to Private Hospitals, for Students and other special
cases of international travel took back with immediate effect and allocated to
the Government Vaccination Centres to cover priority age groups of 18-44
years.
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