Amarinder rolls out COVID vaccination for 1.74 HCWs in Punjab; 5 get jab in his presence

Tribune News Service
Mohali, January 16

Punjab joined the rest of the country In the historic roll-out of the Covid vaccine on Saturday morning, with five Health Care Workers (HCWs) getting the jab in the presence of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who virtually kicked off the process to inoculate 1.74 lakh HCWs in the first phase.

Dr Sandeep Singh, Dr Charan Kamal, Dr Dimple Dhaliwal Srivastva, Computer Operator Asha Yadav and Class IV employee Surjit Singh were administered the first dose of Covishield Vaccine in the presence of the Chief Minister at Civil Hospital Phase-6. Captain Amarinder Singh also gifted saplings to these five healthcare workers, posted at Civil Hospital, Mohali, as a token of appreciation.

Interacting with media persons, the Chief Minister said it was his desire to get vaccinated first, but in accordance with the directives of the Government of India only HCWs could be covered in the first phase.

"I would definitely get myself vaccinated in the next phase," revealed Captain Amarinder Singh.

He said that the vaccine would be administered to the HCWs first, followed by the army and police personnel, in line with the guidelines of the Government of India.

He disclosed that he had written to the Prime Minister for permission for free distribution amongst the people belonging to the lower income Groups.

In response to a query on vaccine safety, the Chief Minister said the vaccine would not have been approved unless the scientists were sure of its safety.

He noted that Covid vaccines around the world had been taken by many eminent personalities, including Queen Elizabeth of UK who is 93 and her husband who is 99, without any side effects.

Recalling India’s nearly year-long ordeal, Captain Amarinder Singh said that the first Covid case in the country was reported from Kerala on 30th January, 2020, while the first instance of COVID-19 came to notice in Punjab on 5th March, 2020 with a travel history of Italy.

Since then, since then in Punjab about 1.2 crore persons have been screened for symptoms and over 41 lakh persons have been tested so far, he said, adding that nearly, 1.7 lakh persons have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

The Chief Minister pointed out that Punjab was the first State to Impose lockdown and curfew, besides ensuring home delivery of food items and medicines during curfew.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu thanked the Chief Minister for vigorously pursuing with the Centre for procurement of the Vaccine. He said that all arrangements had been put in place for smooth vaccination, including online portal for registration, operationalisation of 366 sites for administering the dose etc. in the state.

In the initial stage, as many as 408 vaccination teams had been constituted and 59 teams were working to inoculate the HCWs, he added.

Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare Hussan Lal said the vaccines had been authorized for restricted emergency use in the country.

In his address, PPCC President Sunil Jakhar said that no state or Central government could afford privatisation in the core sectors of defence, food and health.

The private sector could compliment services in these sectors to some extent but could not be solely relied upon them, he said.

He emphasised the need to press in mobile health service in the rural areas to create basic awareness amongst women about their health, hygiene and wellness adding he said these mobile vans should fully equipped with doctors and paramedics with facility of tests for proper diagnosis and treatment.

President Punjab Youth Congress Barinder Singh Dhillon lauded the visionary leadership of Captain Amarinder Singh in aptly handling the situation emerging out of Covid.

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