Ludhiana district slips to 7th spot in vaccination in Punjab

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 5

Ludhiana, which was the first district in the state to launch vaccination at doorstep by holding mobile camps, has slipped from fourth to seventh spot in the per lakh Covid inoculation in the state.

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The data, compiled by the Health and Family Welfare Department, a copy of which is with The Tribune, revealed that Ludhiana recorded 17,686 per lakh vaccination coverage till May 1, which was more than the state average of 14,691.

However, the inoculation speed came down from 1,36,172 per million vaccination coverage reported till April 14, which was way ahead than that time’s state average of 99,887.

Mohali beat Pathankot to top the state with maximum 27,478 per lakh vaccination. Pathankot slipped to second slot with 22,178 coverage after remaining at the top with maximum 1,70,262 per million inoculation till April 14.

Among other districts, Gurdaspur registered 21,026 per lakh inoculation, Jalandhar 20,724, Hoshiarpur 19,590, Kapurthala 15,133, Faridkot 14,139, Patiala 13,842, Amritsar 12,835, Tarn Taran 10,598, Barnala 9,878, Ropar 9,628, Muktsar 9,281, Fazilka 8,889, Bathinda 8,863, Moga 8,426, Fatehgarh Sahib 8,264, Ferozepur 8,122, Sangrur 7,445 and Mansa reported the lowest 6,869 per lakh vaccination coverage.

According to the statistics, 1,77,793 healthcare workers have so far been given first dose, 98,701 second jab, 4,58,905 frontline workers first vaccine, 1,01,725 second shot, 23,80,435 above 45 years first injection and 2,43,877 have been inoculated with the second dose.

The vaccine inventory till May 1 showed that the state had utilised 31,95,540 doses of Covishield from the total received stock of 33,46,500, and used 3,22,190 Covaxin doses from the total received stock of 3,34,080.

Wait continues for below-45 age group

The state government was yet to launch the vaccination of 18-44 age group, even five days after the Centre had allowed the inoculation of the population between 18 and 44 years.

However, a few private facilities, which have procured the vaccine stock directly from the manufacturers, have started giving jabs to the below 45 age category.

As per the Centre’s new policy on vaccination, the manufacturers were giving 50 per cent of the total vaccine production to the Union Government, while the rest half vaccine stock was being supplied to the state governments, private hospitals and the corporate sector. The manufacturers, which have been given liberty to decide the price, have quoted Rs 300 per dose of Covishield for the government supplies and Rs 600 for private sector, while Covaxin dose is priced at Rs 400 for government and Rs 1,200 for private facilities.

Jab only at govt centres

• District Immunisation Officer Dr Puneet Juneja said the vaccination would be held only at the government centres and private hospitals would not be given vaccine. Even the DMCH and CMCH would have to discontinue the drive.
• Rush was witnessed at the vaccination centre at the Civil Surgeon’s office. A total of 12,466 persons (6,789 first dose and 5,677 second dose) were vaccinated on Wednesday.