Punjab misses Covid jabs target

The Punjab health department is yet to meet the coronavirus vaccination target set by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

According to sources, the NCOC asked the department to vaccinate 25,000 people in the province daily.

The 126 vaccination centres set up in all 36 districts of the province are vaccinating about 20,000 people daily and it will take a long time to cover the whole population of the province at the current pace.

On the other hand, a continuing increase in the number of Covid-19 patients has left the intensive care units and coronavirus emergency wards in hospitals in the province almost full. The situation may lead to a shortage of facilities for the patients.

The sources said that the slow pace of vaccination in Punjab has caused concerns among the higher authorities.

Read: Punjab extends smart lockdown in 18 districts

All the 126 vaccination centres in the province, including four in Lahore, are functional and the health department claims that sufficient vaccine is available but the pace of vaccination is slow. According to the sources, the vaccine is being administered to 18,000 to 20,000 people in the province daily.

"In Lahore, the vaccine doses are being administered to about 2,200 people daily, while the population of the city is estimated to have reached about 15 million," an official of the health department said.

He told The Express Tribune that authorities in the department were also concerned about fulfilling the responsibility of vaccinating the population while the pandemic is once again at it's peak.

At least 79 deaths caused by coronavirus were reported in Punjab during the past 24 hours, while 2,775 more people tested positive for the virus.

The sources said that the situation was alarming in several cities, especially Lahore, where 1,436 new cases the disease were confirmed in a day.

The pressure on the department is mounting because the prevailing situation has prompted demands for vaccination from the managements of schools and universities, teachers and officials of some departments.

Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department spokesman Sayed Hamad Raza said the services at the vaccination centres were continuing in Ramazan.

"We are working in two shifts at the centres. The timing of the first shift is from 10am to 4pm and second shift from 9pm to 1am. We carry out the vaccination according to a schedule," he said.

Read more: Covid-19 claims 64 more lives in Punjab

The spokesperson said the people should visit the centres in accordance with the criteria set by the government.

"Vaccination of around 80,000 people has been completed in Lahore, but it is a fact that we have not yet reached the daily vaccination target of 25,000 set by the NCOC. After considerable efforts, we are vaccinating about 20,000 people daily.

However, the trend of vaccination among the people is increasing along with awareness on the issue.

"I have received both doses of vaccine and I am feeling strong and safe. Earlier, I was confused due to rumours about the vaccination but I am healthy after the inoculation," said Javed Iqbal, a 64-year-old resident of the provincial capital.

The vaccination of people above 60 years old is under way in the province, while registration for the purpose of those above 50 has begun. The front line health workers are also included in the first phase of the vaccination and they are currently receiving the second dose.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th, 2021.