Shri Dharampal, Adviser to Administrator today reviewed the status of COVID vaccination with the Secretary Health of UT Administration. During the review, the Adviser to Administrator observed that:
1. COVISHIELD Vaccination for 18 yrs and above: The targeted population of 18 years and above in UT Chandigarh is 8,43,000. All the targeted population has already been given both the doses of the vaccine.
2. COVAXIN Vaccination of Children (15 yrs to 18 yrs): The targeted population in Chandigarh is 72,000. So far about 90% children have been vaccinated with first dose and it include 52 % who have taken second dose also.
3. CorBEvax Vaccination of Children (12 yrs to 14yrs): Targeted Population is 45,000. So far only 29% children have been vaccinated with first dose and it include only 0.5% who have taken second dose also.
4. Precaution Dose (COVISHIELD): The persons above 60 years, Health & Front Line Workers are being given free Pre-Caution Dose at the Government Health Facilities. However, the persons above the age of 18years can get the Pre-Caution Dose from the Private Health Facilities. There must be a gap of 09 months i.e. 39 weeks from the date administration of 2nd dose. So far about 32000 persons have been given third dose as Pre-Caution Dose.
Shri Dharampal, Adviser to Administrator has expressed concerns on the slow pace of vaccination of children. He stated that good coverage of COVID vaccination, prior to 3rd Wave, we could contain the requirement of hospitalization and number of casualties.
Considering increasing number of COVID cases in some of the States/UTs and also in other countries, the worthy Adviser desired that the Health Department to adopt pro-active approach for early vaccination of eligible children in the UT Chandigarh. He desired that efforts should be made to cover all the eligible children within a period of 15 days and for this purpose camps to be organized in schools and assistance of NGOs/Religious Organizations should be obtained. Vaccination of all the eligible persons to be taken as preparation for the possible wave of COVID in view of increasing number of cases in other States/UTs.
Shri Dharampal, Adviser to Administrator has made an appeal to all the citizen to get their children vaccinated against COVID without any further delay.
