Covid vaccine administered at 77 sites

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 16

The Covid vaccination started in the state today with woman sanitation workers of the Health Department among the first ones to get the dose.

Director General (Health Services) Suraj Bhan Kamboj, Additional Director General (Health Services) Dr Veena Singh, National Health Mission Director (NHM) Dr VK Bansal, Panchkula Civil Surgeon Dr Jasjeet Kaur and State Immunisation Officer Dr Virender Ahlawat were among the few who got vaccinated to infuse confidence among people about the vaccine.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said his government had made arrangements for the implementation of the vaccination programme that commenced today at 77 sites across the state. “Two vaccines — Covishield of the Serum Institute of India and Covaxin of India Biotech — have been authorised for emergency use in the state,” he said.

Dr Naresh Trehan of Medanta-The Medicity, Gurugram, also got vaccinated. He told Khattar that mild fever and body pain after getting the jab was normal and that people should not worry about these symptoms.

Prabhjot Singh, Mission Director, NHM, said: “In all, 5,589 persons across the state were administered the vaccine today. This is around 74 per cent of the target. The percentage could reach 80 per cent as the data is being updated.”

Sonepat/Panipat: In all, 165 health workers got vaccinated in Sonepat district, while 140 health staffers received the jab in Panipat.

Dr JS Poonia, Civil Surgeon, Sonepat, said the first dose was administered to Seeta, a Class IV employee in the General Hospital.

“We have fixed five sites — BPS Medical College for Women in Khanpur Kalan, General Hospital in Sonepat, Community Health Centre (CHC) in Gannaur, Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Murthal and Nidan Hospital — for the drive,” he said.

Panipat Civil Surgeon Dr SL Verma said the first shot was administered to Poonam, a sanitation worker, in the General Hospital. After her, he got himself vaccinated.

“No staffer has reported any side effect so far,” Dr Verma said.

Karnal: Ram Kumar, a 48-year-old sanitation worker of the Health Department, got the first shot at the Civil Hospital here. He was among the 375 health workers to get vaccinated against the target of 456.

Civil Surgeon Dr Yogesh Sharma, who inaugurated the drive here, and Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College Director Dr Jagdish Dureja also received the jab.

Kaithal Civil Surgeon Dr Om Parkash said that of the 200 identified health workers, around 140 were vaccinated.

Faridabad: Around 500 healthcare workers each in Faridabad and Palwal districts the first jab. A department official claimed the recipients were not given a choice between the two vaccines.

Hisar: The district health authorities started the vaccination programme at the Jindal Institute of Medical Sciences (JIMS), where sanitation worker Sunita was the first one to receive the jab.

After taking the shot, Sunita (45), spent half an hour under observation. Emerging out of the observation room, she said she had no side effects. By 3.30 pm, 184 persons were vaccinated out of the target of 400.

Rewari: Mahendragarh Civil Surgeon Dr Ashok Kumar said 55 persons in Kanina, 72 in Narnaul and 84 in Mahendragarh were administered doses till 4 pm.

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