Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 25
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday directed the Health Department to order 30 lakh Covishield doses for the vaccination of the 18-45 age group, with directions to use the CM Covid Relief Fund for meeting the vaccine requirements of the poor.
The CM asked the department to place an order for the 30 lakh doses with the Serum Institute of India so that the supplies could start coming in at the earliest. As per information provided by the Central government, delivery of vaccines for 18-45 age group was not expected before May 15.
To ensure free vaccination of the poor in government hospitals, Capt Amarinder Singh said in addition to the CM Covid relief fund, CSR funds should also be tapped into. The ESIC should be asked to support the vaccination of industrial workers covered under the scheme and the Board for Welfare of Construction Workers for construction labourers, he added.
Reviewing the vaccination strategy, the Chief Minister requested the expert group led by Dr Gagandeep Kang to submit the strategy for prioritisation of 18-45 years group (vulnerable groups in high-risk areas — high transmission, high mortality, etc, including construction workers and industrial workers) in its first report by April 29.
He also made it clear that in pursuing the 18-45 age group vaccination strategy, the state government would not compromise on vaccination of above 45 age group.
The CM said the government would consider approaching AstraZeneca (India) directly to allow the state government to avail the lower price of Rs 162 per dose available to the global community. The state has so far received 29,36,770 doses of Covishield (including 3.5 lakh doses meant for AFMS and Central healthcare workers) and 3.34 lakh doses of Covaxin.
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