266 inoculated in Panchkula

Amit Bathla

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, January 16

As many as 266 healthcare workers were administered Covid-19 vaccine on Day 1 of the inoculation drive, here today.

Senior Health Department officials, both state and district level, including Director General (Health) Dr SB Kamboj, Additional Director General (Health) Dr Veena Singh, State Immunisation Officer, NHM Dr Virender Ahlawat and district Covid nodal officers Dr Rajiv Narwal, Dr Mankeerat Kaur, Dr Meenu Sasan also took the vaccine shot in order to dispel doubts in the minds of people and instil confidence about the efficacy of the vaccine.

The district witnessed the inoculation drive at three centres namely Alchemist Hospital, Civil Dispensary Sector 4, and Community Health Centre (CHC), Raipur Rani, with nearly 300 health workers being on the recipients’ list for the first day.

Civil Surgeon Dr Jasjeet Kaur said: “It is a matter of great satisfaction. We have reached the decisive stage in war against the Covid-19. Enthusiasm ran high among beneficiaries on Day 1 of the vaccination drive. All in all, it was good the way we expected it to be. Hopefully, we will cover all healthcare workers soon”.

In the first phase, the Panchkula Heath Department has identified around 9,000 healthcare and frontline workers, including Army personnel from Chandimandir Cantonment.

On limited stock of the vaccine, Dr Kaur said they would give a priority to healthcare workers deployed at the Covid hospitals in view of their vulnerability to the virus.

So far, Panchkula has received 9,000 doses, which would meet only 50 per cent requirement. When asked about the second consignment of the vaccine, Dr Kaur said they were hoping to receive it soon.

Director General (Health) Dr SB Kamboj, who got a jab at the Civil Dispensary in Sector 4, said he was completely fine after being vaccinated.

“I had no issue during and after the vaccination. I urge everyone to get vaccinated without any fear. People should continue Covid-19 appropriate behaviour until the body develops immunity against the virus, which takes around six weeks,” he said.

Admn fails to achieve perfect score

The local health administration failed to achieve the perfect score with 95 per cent coverage.

As per local health officials, they were expecting 282 health officials on Day 1 of the drive. While CHC, Raipur Rani, and Alchemist Hospital saw 100 beneficiaries each, the Sector 4 Civil Dispensary, which hogged the limelight with the presence of senior officials, witnessed only 66 persons. There was absenteeism at this centre only. A few said they were out of station while others switched off their mobile phones.

A technician at a nursing home, who didn’t wish to be named, said: “I was out of station. So, I couldn’t get the jab. Otherwise, I have no apprehensions over the vaccine. I am ready to take it next time.”

Dr Kaur said: “Yes, there are fears, doubts and apprehensions in minds of several healthcare workers. The enthusiastic response on the first day of the programme will put a rest to all unscientific fears and build confidence among them.”

Social distancing goes for a toss

Social distancing norms went for a toss at the observation room at the Sector 4 Civil Dispensary, where the beneficiaries were kept for 30 minutes after vaccination. The observation room was full of photojournalists desperate to capture the “unprecedented moment”.