Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, May 25

Despite home to the highest number of Covid cases in the state, Ludhiana district has earned distinction at the vaccination front and become a leading district of Punjab by administrating jabs to 1.03 lakh beneficiaries in the 18-44 age category till yesterday, ie May 24, 2021, under its inoculation drive being carried out aggressively against the deadly disease.

Ludhiana is already first in the state by vaccinating 7.55 lakh in terms of overall coverage of categories in its vaccination drive.

Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma said 1,03,331 beneficiaries in the 18-44 age bracket, have been given the doses, which is highest in Punjab till May 24, 2021. He said Ludhiana is followed by Patiala and Hoshiarpur by covering 56,480 and 35,194 beneficiaries, respectively, in the same category. Jalandhar and Gurdaspur districts have so far administrated jabs to 32,310 and 26,874 beneficiaries, respectively, in the same age group.

He emphasised that only a massive Covid vaccination programme on a war footing can help to stop the third wave of the pandemic as maximum coverage of the people under the immunisation drive would help to build herd immunity.

Sharma added that people need to make wearing a mask, frequent washing of hands and social distancing new norms. He asked everybody to meticulously follow the Covid guidelines issued by the Health Department.

Meanwhile, as many as 17 various industries of Ludhiana have placed orders of Covid vaccine worth Rs 30,91,700 to administer jabs to their 7,190 employees.

The stock of vaccine is expected to arrive in the next few days, following which the administration will organise the vaccination camps on their premises.

Disclosing further details, DC Varinder Kumar Sharma said 17 industries have so far ordered vaccine from both manufacturers Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech, worth Rs 30 lakh for 7,190 workers through the administration.