CS orders door-to-door Covid-19 vaccination

Health authorities to immunise citizens at their doorsteps in all 36 districts

LAHORE:

Expressing concern over a surge in coronavirus cases in the province, Punjab Chief Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik directed the health authorities to start a door-to-door coronavirus vaccination campaign in all 36 districts.

He issued this direction while presiding over a high-level meeting at the Civil Secretariat on Monday. The meeting reviewed the coronavirus pandemic situation, provision of medical facilities in hospitals, and vaccination targets.

The chief secretary said that a door-to-door vaccination campaign in eight cities of the province had been underway since July 26 and its scope would be extended to all 36 districts. He expressed concern over a surge in cases and asked the Coronavirus Experts Advisory Group (CEAG) to monitor the situation.

The chief secretary said, “It is evident from the data the vaccination is highly effective against the deadly virus.”

The patients who received even a single dose were in a better condition than those who did not the chief secretary claimed.

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He further said that if vaccination could save precious lives, laxity in Covid-19 vaccination could be considered as serious negligence.

The chief secretary said that coronavirus can be prevented only by vaccinating as many people as possible. He mentioned that the vaccination campaign was a ‘national cause.’

“Implementation of NCOC guidelines will be ensured in any case.” He appealed to the citizens to continue following SOPs along with vaccination.

The secretaries of Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department and Punjab Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department gave a detailed briefing to the CS.

The secretaries of both healthcare departments revealed that the rate of positive virus cases had increased to over eight percent in 15 districts of Punjab. The vaccination was in full swing in all districts.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2021.