Vaccinate teachers, college students on priority, says Punjab CM

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 15

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday directed the health authorities to start vaccination of teachers, non-teaching staff and students in the 18-45 age group from all schools and colleges from June 21, to enable educational institutions in the state to open safely.

The Chief Minister directed the Health Department to ensure that all persons with co-morbidities/disabilities and government employees were vaccinated on a priority basis. Staff in hospitality industry, parlours, service outlets, including shops, restaurants, gyms etc., should also be vaccinated at the earliest, he said at a Covid review meeting here today.

Judicial officers and lawyers should also be prioritised so that normal court functioning could safely resume, said Captain Amarinder, while asking the department to reach out proactively to nursing mothers who are eligible for vaccination.

Expressing concern over the gender gap in vaccination, he directed health experts to identify the reasons and rectify the situation.

The CM also ordered ward-wise and village-wise campaigns in cities/towns/rural areas that saw higher positivity/mortality.

Health Secretary Hussan Lal said the number of Covishield doses received by the state so far for the 18-45 age group stood at 5,86,000, of which 5,30,610 had been used. Of 1,50,850 Covaxin doses received by the state, 66,040 had been utilised.