Captain Amarinder Singh seeks prioritised allocation of COVID-19 vaccine
Coronavirus vaccine: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking priority allocation of Covid-19 vaccine to the state. He cited Punjab's higher fatality rate resulting from the population age profile and high levels of co-morbidities.
In his letter, the Chief Minister said despite its relatively low caseload, the higher fatality rate due to Covid in Punjab, which thus needs special dispensation in the allocation of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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Pointing out that the vaccines currently under consideration would not perhaps reduce transmission so much as prevent serious disease, Captain Amarinder Singh said that the best use of coronavirus vaccine would therefore be in preventing serious illness in the most susceptible groups, including the elderly and persons with high morbidity.
Captain also sought clarity as to whether the Covid-19 vaccination would be entirely funded by the Government of India, including the cost of vaccines and vaccination supplies.
He further asked PM Narendra Modi for clarity on the principles based on which the prioritized groups are to be identified for sequential immunization phases and leave the preparation of the list of prioritized groups to the state.
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The Chief Minister also sought expansion of the definition of frontline workers for the purpose of immunization to include administrative officials and others responsible for essential functions.
While the definition of healthcare worker was relatively precise and Punjab had compiled data based on it, but the definition of frontline workers lack clarity, he noted, adding that as of now it seemed to include only security forces (Police, Armed Forces) and Municipal Workers, with some mention of primary school teachers.
The Chief Minister said that while it appeared that private sector healthcare workers would be enumerated and that the Centre also intends to provide vaccines for them, apart from government sector healthcare workers, the question did arise if the vaccines also are provided to other priority groups and the general population, should they wish to receive vaccines from government providers.
-PTC News
