25 pc drop in jabs as vaccine stock dries up in Punjab

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 20

State’s Covid vaccine stocks seems to be drying up at a rapid pace as last week (April 13 to 19) the Health Department administered 25 per cent less doses of vaccination compared to the previous week.

As per the data of the Health Department, between April 5 and 12, the department administered 7.53 lakh doses. However, in the last week (April 13 to 19), it administered just 5.56 lakh doses of the vaccine.

23.4 lakh administered vaccine in state

As per a reality check made in the field, several districts of Punjab are facing shortage of vaccine. A large number of people who require second dose are being sent back on the pretext of shortage. In Moga and Barnala, the stock of Covishield had dried up.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said the state government had a strong health infrastructure and the capacity to vaccinate at least 3 lakh persons in a day through more than 3,000 government health centres, but due to lesser supply of vaccine from the Centre, the state was not able to achieve the target.

Even CM Capt Amarinder Singh had raised the issue of shortage of vaccine during a virtual meeting with the Centre and demanded immediate supplies of vaccines and quick approval for two new oxygen plants in the state amid concerns over depleting stocks of both.

Inoculation so far

Healthcare workers doses

• 1,69,268 1st
• 81,104 2nd

Frontline warriors

• 3,14,427 1st
• 72,845 2nd

45+ age group

• 18,63,111 1st
• 90,172 2nd

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