Priority jab for students flying abroad

Chandigarh, June 7

Students from Punjab planning to go abroad for studies will now be prioritised in the vaccination process in the 18-45 age group, CM Captain Amarinder Singh said today.

At a high-level virtual Covid review meeting, the CM directed the Health and Medical Education departments to allow districts to use up to 10 per cent of the doses for the 18-45 group for priority categories other than those approved at the state level.

“Besides students seeking to go abroad, caregivers of elderly persons and other urgent priority groups may be included in the list,” he said. Captain Amarinder also asked the departments concerned to proactively vaccinate all persons in the categories already prioritised by the state government in the age group, based on vaccine availability. This, he stressed, was essential to keep the risk of spread low as the restrictions were eased in the state.

The state had initially prioritised construction labour, co-morbid individuals and families of healthcare workers in the 18-45 age group, and had already vaccinated over 4.3 lakh individuals in these categories. The list was subsequently expanded to include shopkeepers and their staff; and staff working in the hospitality industry (hotels, restaurants, marriage palaces, caterers), among others. — TNS

Full leave credit for medicos

Taking cognisance of the hard work of the medical college faculty fighting the pandemic, the CM on Monday announced full credit of earned leave in lieu of their cancelled vacations. The CM also asked senior officials to explore other incentives for healthcare workers as a token of the government’s appreciation.