With the Covid-19 vaccine in the final stages of operationalisation in India, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder on Wednesday announced that he will take the first shot of the vaccine in Punjab, once it is cleared by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) — in an apparent attempt to build the people’s confidence in the vaccine. The Chief Minister made this announcement at the virtual cabinet meeting, during a presentation to discuss the COVID situation in Punjab and the state’s preparedness to roll out the vaccine.
In line with the Central Government’s strategy for vaccination, Punjab has prioritized healthcare workers, frontline workers, the elderly population (over 50 years of age), and people with co-morbidities (50 years or below).
The state Health Secretary Hussan Lal said that Punjab has compiled data of 1.25 lakh government and private healthcare workers to be vaccinated in the first phase. Approximately 23 percent (70 lakh) of the state’s population, estimated at around three crore, will be vaccinated in terms of the Centre’s guidelines on vaccine prioritization, he added.
To ensure seamless roll-out of the vaccination, the State Steering Committee is coordinating closely with the National Steering Committee, while the State Task Force will work in tandem with the district and block level task force committees for the same. Organisations like WHO, UNDP, and others are working as developmental partners in the process.
Following a review of the available facilities, the State Government has requested the Centre for certain additional cold chain equipment, including vaccine vans, deep freezers, ice-lined refrigerators, cold boxes, vaccine carriers, ice packs, thermometers, and stabilizers.