Fight against Covid gaining momentum

As many as 19,625 frontline healthcare workers and senior citizens in Islamabad have been vaccinated so far against the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) as the government paces up immunisation of citizens against the deadly virus. Some 33,154 people have registered themselves for the vaccination while 27,240 have been scheduled so far, a spokesperson said on Wednesday.

According to official figures, 2,929 people out of 3,921 registered have received vaccine jabs at Capital Development Authority (CDA) Hospital while 6,077 of 8,765 registered healthcare workers and elderly people have been vaccinated at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

Furthermore, 2,203 of 3,067 registered individuals have been administered the vaccine at Poly Clinic Hospital (PCH) along with 750 of 1,650 registered people at Bhara Kahu Rural Health Centre (RCH). The lowest number has been recorded in Sihala RCH where only 185 healthcare workers and senior citizens out of 1,381 registered were vaccinated so far while 215 of 433 registered vaccine candidates have been administered the jabs at Akbar S Niazi Hospital.

At the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, 332 registered people out of a total of 1,742 have been administered the vaccine while 318 of 864 have been immunised at Kulsoom Hospital. Infectious Treatment Centre has vaccinated 106 of 379 registered people while Quaid-i-Azam hospital has administered jabs to 416 individuals of a total of 934.

Moreover, some 137 senior citizens and healthcare workers out of 378 have received vaccine doses at Social Security Hospital whereas 105 out of 304 registered candidates have been vaccinated at CDA Medical Centre.

Meanwhile, 10,795 people including 3,038 health workers and 2,202 senior citizens received vaccine shots at 23 centres operating across Rawalpindi since the vaccination drive launched last month. District Health Officer Dr Jawad Khalid informed the number of beneficiaries being vaccinated every day showed a progressive increase.

On the other hand, according to data shared by the district administration, the number of totals positive cases has reached 15,512 including 14,121 belonging to Rawalpindi and 1,391 from other districts after addition of 162 more positive cases in a day.

The report stated that 13,940 positive patients were discharged after fully recovering while 709 were in quarantine at their homes. "Presently, 147 confirmed patients were admitted to various facilities of the city, including 34 from Rawal Town, 27 from Potahar Town, 53 from Cantt area, 19 from Gujjar Khan, four from Kahuta, five from Kallar Syedan, four from Taxila and one from Kotli Sattiyan," he added.

Furthermore, the FGEHA Director-General Sohail Rasheed contracted Covid on Wednesday as his test returned positive after which he has been sent under isolation. Housing Ministry Additional Secretary Zahoor Ahmed has been given the additional charge of FGEHA DG in his absence.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2021.