Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 11

The Health Ministry on Wednesday directed 25 per cent increase in Covid vaccine supply to Punjab after Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh flagged the need for additional doses in the wake of the forthcoming festive season and 26 lakh people in waiting for the second Covishield shot.

The CM raised the demands in a meeting with Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya who ordered immediate increase in Punjab’s allocation by 25 per cent.

Punjab sought supply of 55 lakh doses of vaccines on priority with Mandaviya assuring ease of supply from the next month.

“The Health Minister said he would fulfil the state’s requirement by October 31 and ordered the department to immediately increase Punjab’s allocation to meet its urgent requirement,” a CMO statement said. The CM said the state could arrange to vaccinate five to seven lakh people daily with enhanced supplies.

He said allocation of vaccine for Punjab for August stood at 20,47,060 doses of Covishield, while 26 lakh doses were needed just for those whose second dose was overdue.

Citing data, the CM said Punjab has had relatively less allocation of vaccines (and hence low per capita vaccination) as compared to other states and needed to be increase to cover more population and catch

up with other states.