CM Amarinder urges PM Modi to allocate COVID vaccine to Punjab on priority once available

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to make allocation of COVID19 vaccine to Punjab on priority basis owing to state's higher mortality rate due to population profile and high levels of co-morbidities.

Punjab's tally of COVID-19 has risen to 1,56,226 cases with dition of 802 new infections on Saturday, while 10 more fatalities pushed death toll to 4,9215. re are 7,896 active COVID-19 cases in state.  CM has contended that Punjab has a higher fatality rate due to COVID-19 even after relatively lower caselo, citing it as reason for seeking vaccine on a priority basis.

Captain Amarinder in his letter to PM has also enquired wher vaccination exercise would be entirely funded by Centre, including cost of vaccines and supplies. CM also sought clarification on definition of frontline workers as to who all would be included within purview of term frontline worker.

data of health care workers from government as well as private sector has been compiled and shared on digital platform, CM said. 

He thanked Centre for supporting state government during pandemic and congratulated Modi for taking all special steps to make a vaccine available to citizens of country.

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Vaccine soon: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said a COVID-19 vaccine may be rey in a few weeks as he ted that experts believe wait for it will t be long and asserted that vaccination drive in India will begin as soon as scientists give d. In his remarks at an all-party meeting held virtually to discuss India's COVID-19 vaccination strategy, PM Modi said healthcare workers involved in treating Coronavirus patients, frontline workers, who include police personnel and municipal staff, and old people suffering from serious conditions would be iculated on priority. 

PM Modi said nearly eight vaccine candidates, three of which are indigeus, are at different sts of trial and will be manufactured in India. Speaking about his interaction with Indian scientists involved in developing vaccine and his visit to Pune, Ahmedab and Hyderab facilities where work is on in this regard, he said y are very confident of success.

(With PTI inputs)

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