After getting jab for second dose of Covid vaccine, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Tuesday appealed the people to get them vaccinated at the earliest without showing any sort of complacency to prevent themselves from the possible infection from the new variant of Omicron.Chairing a meeting to review the preparedness to face any eventuality in wake of Omicron here at Punjab Bhawan, the Chief Minister directed the Health & Medical Education Research departments to work in tandem to intensify the pace of vaccination drive so as to cover the entire eligible population across the state.While apprising the Chief Minister about the status of Covid vaccination so far in the state, Secretary Health & Family Welfare said that out of 2.46 crore eligible population, 1.66 crore (80 percent) have been administered the first dose and nearly 38 percent i.e. 79.87 lakh have been given the second dose. He said that the Health department has available stock of 46 lac doses as on today and medical/paramedic teams are actively engaged in the vaccination spree to cover the remaining population in a missionary mode.
Apart from this, around 30,000 tests were being done for detection of Corona cases on daily basis.Pointing out further, Health Secretary updated CM Channi that the department was fully geared to face any possibility of fresh outbreak of new variant as sufficient material/equipments has been procured including 12 lac Rapid Antigen Kits, 17 lac VTM test kits, equipments for RTPCR labs for 20 districts, paediatric L2 (790) and L3 (324) beds besides adult L2 (3500) and L3 (142) beds and adequate stock of medicines for Covid patients.Showing satisfaction over the arrangements made till date to cope with any feasibility of fresh wave due to new variant, the Chief Minister categorically said that though there is not a single case of Omicron has been reported in the state so for yet we cannot tolerate complicity on this count.Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included Deputy Chief Minister OP Soni who also holds the portfolio of Health and Family Welfare, Principal Secretary to CM Hussan Lal, Principal Secretary Home Anurag Verma, Special Principal Secretary to CM Rahul Tiwari and DGP Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota.