Covid vaccination lags behind target in K-P

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Secretary Dr Shehzad Khan Bangash has expressed dissatisfaction over the slow Covid-19 vaccination in the province and directed the deputy commissioners to increase the pace to achieve the vaccination target set by National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) and the provincial government.

A high-level meeting regarding vaccination and spread of Omicron variant was held under the chairmanship of the chief secretary via video link. Secretary health, secretary home, secretary transport, secretary elementary and secondary education, secretary higher education, all divisional commissioners, focal person NCOC, coordinator EOC, director general health and deputy commissioners of all districts attended the meeting.

The chief secretary said the ongoing door to door vaccination campaign should be made a success by using all available resources.

He added that there would be no compromise on the success of the vaccination campaign.

He further stated that the eradication of this pandemic will be possible only when entire population is vaccinated. On the occasion, health secretary said that steps are being taken to achieve the assigned targets of vaccination and in this regard the K-P Health Department is in close liaison with all the divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners.

Health secretary informed the meeting that in 19 districts 70 per cent target of first dose has been achieved however in 17 districts 70 per cent target of second dose of vaccine has been achieved which is less than the set target. Chief secretary expressed his dissatisfaction over the pace of vaccination.

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On the occasion, the chief secretary said that the vaccination teams should be closely monitored and action taken against those vaccinators who show dereliction of duty.

The district administrations informed the meeting in detail about the liaison with the Wifaqul Madaris for conducting vaccination campaign in the madrassas, on which the secretary directed the secretary auqaaf to keep a liaison with Wifaaqul Madaaris in this regard and include seminaries’ students in the campaign.

The forum was also informed about the lack of cooperation by MTI’s in the vaccination drive. Bangash said that strict action shall be taken against those responsible for it.

On this occasion, the director general of health said that during the last 24 hours, a total of 11,500 tests have been done of which results of 1,441 came back positive. Bangash also directed an awareness campaign to expedite the vaccination drive.

The facilities available for the patients in hospitals also came under discussion, during which the director general health said that beds, oxygen and other facilities for the Covid patients are available in the hospitals.

The CS said that in areas or institutions where positive cases of omicron are reported, smart lockdown should be imposed and movement in the affected areas should be banned.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2022.