Sanitation staff to be vaccinated first in Punjab

OF 2.04 LAKH DOSES OF ANTI-COVID VACCINE PUNJAB HAS RECEIVED, 11,000 WILL BE GIVEN TO HEALTH WORKERS IN CENTRAL AND DEFENCE SERVICES

CHANDIGARH: Safai karamcharis ( sanitation staff) of health department will be the first to get the Covishield shots in the drive starting from January 16.

This is being done as per the directions of the government of India, asking the states to first vaccinate the sanitation staff and then the staff enrolled for the vaccination drive, said Punjab’s nodal officer for Covid-19 Dr Rajesh Bhaskar.

The list of sanitation staff workers will be finalised by the health department districtwise, he said. The workers have already been enrolled on the government of India portal. As per a senior health department functionary, sanitation staff has been asked to give the first shots as a mark of respect for the services which they provided during the peak of the pandemic.

State health department has trained 608 health officers to work as vaccinators.

11,000 shots for central and defence staff

Out of 2.04 lakh doses of anti-covid vaccine Punjab has received, 11,000 doses will be given to health workers functioning in the central and defence services posted in Punjab, it is learnt.

Meanwhile, the doses will reach the district headquarters’ cold chains on Thursday. Each van carrying the vaccine will be guided by a pilot vehicle of the Punjab Police.

In the first phase, the government plans to vaccinate about 1.5 lakh health workers and 3 lakh frontline workers, including police and security personnel and sanitation workers.

The department, however, is not yet sure if the 2.04 lakh doses are meant for two shots each beneficiary is supposed to get. “The government of India has not clarified yet if we will get vaccine for the second shot or we have to save the half for the second one. Things are not clear yet,” the nodal officer said.

As per Punjab government plan, vaccination will be done at 110 sites on January 16.