Punjab Lags Behind In Covid Vaccination Drive, Vaccinates Only 18 Per Cent Frontline Workers So Far

Indicating a poor performance in vaccinating its frontline workers, Punjab has administered COVID19 vaccine dose to just 18.33 per cent of the registered frontline workers till Tuesday (16 February), reports The Indian Express.

Though the first phase of the Covid vaccination drive started on January 16 in Punjab, the state has managed to vaccinate just 37.40 per cent of its registered healthcare workers.

There hasn’t been any overwhelming response from frontline workers of the state who include police, sanitation workers, MC employees, defence, paramilitary personnel etc.

“Hesitancy and apprehensions regarding the vaccine even among the healthcare workers, is probably the only reason for the low response in Punjab. We are trying our best to encourage healthcare and frontline workers to shun hesitancy and get themselves vaccinated but then we can say only till a limit. It is one’s personal choice and decision,” said Dr GB Singh, director health, Punjab.

Till Tuesday (16 February), 86.4 lakh first doses of Covid vaccine have been administered across the country of which Punjab has achieved just 1.09 lakh doses.

Comparatively the neighboring Haryana state with less population than Punjab has administered 2 lakh first doses of Covid vaccine.

“The second phase of vaccination for frontline workers is till March 5. We are trying to encourage health workers, both in government as well as private sector, to get vaccinated,” said Dr Rajiv Bhaskar, nodal officer for Covid, Punjab.