Will involve RWAs, NGOs to jack up drive: Adviser

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 25

UT Adviser Dharam Pal today made a surprise visit to a vaccination centre in Sector 27 to check the arrangements.

“I just wanted to see how things were going on without giving prior information to the staff there. I am happy that it was all systematic and social distancing and all (norms) were followed,” he said.

The Adviser, however, said, “I thought there would have been more number of people getting vaccinated. We are planning to hold vaccination camps in colleges and with the help of NGOs and RWAs to increase the participation.”

The Adviser made the surprise check soon after the inauguration of a sports facility in Sector 27.

Vaccination is expected to pick pace next week as the Central Government has allocated 1.5 lakh doses for the government sector and 50,000 to private hospitals in the city for the month of July. A total of 50,700 doses are to be received in the current month.

A senior official said as many as 4,88,383 doses had been administered in the city so far and walk-in facility for vaccination of the 18 plus was started in all government hospitals and dispensaries.

The Adviser has already directed the health authorities not only to speed up vaccination, but also to ensure that all government vaccination centres remain open over the weekend. This is aimed at ensuring the maximum vaccination coverage before the coronavirus comes knocking again.