"No vaccination drive from May 1, vaccine stock not received: Balbir Singh Sidhu
Coronavirus Punjab: Ahead of the COVID-19 vaccination in India for people above the age of 18 years, the Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Thursday flagged the COVID-19 vaccine crisis.
Balbir Singh Sidhu said that it would be difficult to begin COVID-19 vaccination for people above 18 years due to a shortage of COVID-19 vaccines.
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While addressing the media, he said that "we will start COVID-19 vaccination in Punjab only if there will be at least 10 lakh vaccines." He further said that "we are ready to start the vaccination but we are having a shortage of vaccines."
Furthermore, he briefed the media about the COVID-19 situation in Ludhiana. He said that "Ludhiana was one of the big cities in India and there were a lot of slums in the district. Hence, it is the populated district."
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"Those who will reach the hospital early will be saved while those who will come late will get it severe," he said.
Adding, he said that precaution was the only way to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. "No one should go out without a mask as there's no medication for this, just wearing a mask could prevent you from COVID-19.
Meanwhile, several opposition-ruled states have flagged the issue of shortage of vaccine. Four opposition-ruled states, including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Chhattisgarh, revealed that they won’t be able to start the next phase of COVID-19 vaccination for those above 18 years due to the shortage of vaccines.
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