Ludhiana: More than 10,000 healthcare workers have received the jab in the district to date in the on-going first phase of the Covid-19 vaccination drive. Meanwhile, the authorities are uploading the data for the second phase of the drive and the process has to be complete by January 31.
Civil surgeon Dr Sukhjeevan Kakkar said, “So far, 11,843 healthcare workers have been vaccinated in Ludhiana, which is the highest in the state.”
A health department officer said, “On Wednesday as well, Ludhiana topped the districts of the state in vaccination, as 2,191 healthcare workers received the shot. As many as 788 were vaccinated in Amritsar. Twenty-two sessions were held in Ludhiana to vaccinate such a number.”
The civil surgeon said they were creating awareness among the healthcare workers about the vaccine being safe, so that more of them came forward. “It’s difficult to say when will we be able to complete the process of giving the first shot of vaccine to more than 30,000 healthcare workers in the district. One third of the target has been met till now,” he added.
Meanwhile, an officer said the process of registration of the frontline workers for the second phase of vaccination drive was going on.
Principal secretary, health department, Hussan Lal said, “Registration of frontline workers of all categories has been done, except those of the revenue department. They have been asked to get it done by January 31. The government of India will be able to say when the second phase will start. Hopefully, it will begin immediately after the phase one.”
Another senior health department officer said, “They (government) have told us that phases can run concurrently as well depending on the availability of vaccines.”
The local health department officials said while the number of healthcare workers registered for vaccination was more than 30,000, that of frontline workers must be around 70,000 to 80,000. The frontline workers comprised police, revenue department employees, security forces personnel, Army personnel, workers of municipal corporation and disaster management, among others.
A health department official said, “With rumours against the vaccines doing the rounds, the department needs to work hard to dispel wrong information.”