With only 5.35 percent population fully vaccinated so far, Punjab Government on Monday once again urged the Centre to ramp up the vaccine supply.

To stem the rise in the number of coronavirus infections in the near future, vaccination drive in the State needs more push although figure of people with both doses of vaccine in Punjab stands at just 5.35 percent, said the state Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Monday.

He said that Punjab has been able to vaccinate 94,79,351 persons, out of which 77,16,433 have received the first dose and 17,62,918 have completed their vaccination with two doses.

Sidhu pointed out that Punjab has been receiving less supply of vaccines. “I have urged the Central Government many times to expedite the vaccine supply so that the State Government can safeguard its population by vaccinating them with both doses of vaccine,” he said. The Minister said that presently, the figure of people with both doses of vaccine in Punjab stands at just 5.35 percent. “Therefore, to avoid the third wave of COVID-19, apart from health infrastructure, vaccine supply needs to be ramped up by the Central Government so that entire population can be covered,” he added.

As the fear of the third wave of COVID-19 is looming large, Punjab Government is already geared up for tackling the anticipated load of a large number of cases, he said adding that Health Department is fully equipped to handle an increased number of cases which may be more than the infections in the second wave, enough health infrastructure — such as enhanced bed capacity, 9000 oxygen concentrators, 75 PSA oxygen generation plants — have been added in a short span of time.

PUNJAB’S 63.15% POPULATION HAD COVID ANTIBODIES: SERO SURVEY

The fourth Sero Survey, conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in Punjab’s four districts, has revealed that total 63.15 percent of the state’s population had COVID antibodies.

As per the results of the Sero Survey, amongst the healthcare workers, 83.25 percent had antibodies. Out of these four districts, Ludhiana had the maximum positivity of 71 percent in the general population, said the Minister sharing the results of the survey.

The Minister said that the survey’s results convey the presence of COVID antibodies in the population surveyed which means that Punjab had a much higher number of cases than the number which were reported.

Considering the high prevalence of COVID among Punjab’s population, he appealed to follow COVID Appropriate Behaviour till the whole of the population is completely vaccinated with two doses.

GOVT READY TO COUNTER THIRD WAVE

Claiming that Punjab Government was ready to counter the third wave of COVID-19, the state Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Monday said that the Department can handle 25 percent more patients than the past waves.

“The Health Department is fully ready to counter the third wave....The Department has worked hard in this direction in recent times...The number of beds in government hospitals is being increased, and 78 PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) plants are being set up in the State to alleviate the shortage of oxygen. Apart from this, oxygen tankers are also being provided,” he said while talking with reporters in Moga.

Sidhu specially visited Moga Civil Hospital on Monday to inquire about the condition of the patients injured in the recent accident on Moga-Kot Ise Khan road. During his visit, Moga MLA Dr Harjot Kamal, Bagha Purana MLA Darshan Singh Brar, Dharamkot MLA Sukhjit Singh Kaka Lohgarh, Zira MLA Kulbir Singh Zira, besides former MLA Vijay Kumar Sathi, Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Hans, among others were also present.

“Punjab Government stood by the families of the victims in this hour of grief.  Chief Minister has announced that the families of the deceased would be provided Rs five lakh each, the injured Rs 50,000 each and free treatment,” said Sidhu.

Regarding the loss of life in the accident, he said that it was an unfulfilled loss and cannot be fulfilled, but they are always standing by to give relief to the families in this grief.

At the same time, he directed the Health Department to make all possible efforts for the speedy recovery of the patients undergoing treatment.