Chandigarh : 13 April, 2021 : ‘The Government shall provide inhouse facility for vaccination in organizations who collect more than 100 eligible persons’ said Shri Sanjay Tandon, Member – National Council BJP & Co-Incharge, BJP Himachal Pradesh while addressing a video conference on Tika Utsav organized by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) to motivate industry members to mobilize their employees for large scale covid-19 vaccination.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sanjay Tandon said nobody knew about the covid-19 contagion when it started last year but we were able to develop the vaccine very fast and the first phase of vaccination started from 16th January this year. He said that the vaccination phases have been planned accordingly to the vulnerability of people. Accordingly, the medical staff and frontline workers were given the vaccine in the first phase. This was followed by vaccination of senior citizens and people with comorbidities. Now the vaccination is open for people above the age of 45 years.
He stated that the number of covid-19 cases was declining but due to negligent behavior of people, we are witnessing the second wave of the virus which is spreading much faster. Therefore, the Government has started mass vaccination drive by observing Tika Utsav. He lamented that due to fear psychosis and misinformation, people are not coming forward to get vaccinated. Only 27 lac people could be vaccinated on the first day against the target of 50 lac people.
Introducing the topic, Dr. Anil Gupta, Chair, Regional Healthcare Committee, PHDCCI & Medical Superintendent, PGIMER said that covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected the whole world. In India more than one crore people have been infected by the virus resulting in death of over 7 lac persons. Currently, the country has more than 12 lac active cases. Appreciating the Government efforts in fighting the contagion, Dr. Gupta said that India has been able to make huge progress in manufacturing and exporting the vaccine. Till date more than 10 crore people have been vaccinated in India. He said the Tika Utsav is a golden chance for people to get vaccinated. He said that covid infection can be effectively controlled by vaccination and following covid-19 protocol.
Dr. Madhu Gupta, Professor – Community Medicine, PGIMER made a comprehensive presentation on various aspects of the covid pandemic. She informed that the second peak of covid-19 is much faster and sharp. She said although the Government is working proactively to provide vaccination against the infection but people have apprehensions about the vaccine and are hesitant to get vaccinated.
She stated that currently two vaccines – covishield and covaxin are being administered in India and both the vaccines are very safe and work effectively against the virus with no major health concerns appearing in vaccinated persons. She explained that anti bodies developed after vaccination repel the virus and provide protection to the inoculated person against infection and even if the person gets infected, the symptoms are very mild. She informed that every person will have to get two doses of the vaccine as sufficient level of anti-bodies is not developed with one dose. She added that the efficacy of the vaccine increases with 6 – 8 week gap between two doses of vaccine. She advised people to take healthy diet and follow covid-19 protocol.
Earlier, welcoming the Chief Guest, speakers and participants, Mr. Madhu Sudan Vij, Chair, Chandigarh Chapter, PHDCCI informed that PHDCCI is organizing a series of Awareness Sessions with Industry and Community Leaders to promote the vaccination drive.
Thanking the Chief Guest and speakers, Mr. Suvrat Khanna, Co-Chair, Chandigarh Chapter, PHDCCI hoped that PHDCCI effort will help in motivating people to get vaccinated.
