The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department has prepared recommendations regarding mandatory vaccination and restrictions for those who refuse to vaccinate themselves against Covid-19.
According to details, the Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasir Rashid chaired a high-level meeting at the civil secretariat on the current Covid-19 vaccination drive.
During the meeting, different queries regarding the vaccination supply chain, NIMS data entry issues and SOPs on vaccination were discussed.
Secretary P&SHD chaired an interactive session with all Deputy Commissioner of Punjab on the current Covid-19 Vaccination Drive. During the meeting, different queries regarding the vaccination supply chain, NIMS data entry issues and SOPs on vaccination were discussed pic.twitter.com/RABPL5ZACT
— Primary & Secondary Healthcare Department (@PSHDept) June 9, 2021
The meeting also mulled over blocking SIM cards of those citizens who refuse to get themselves vaccinated against the novel coronavirus. The health officials also recommended in the meeting to ban the entry of unvaccinated citizens to shopping malls and restaurants.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Yasmin Rashid said that the protection of citizens from Covid-19 is the main priority of the Punjab government.
” Only a vaccine can end the Covid-19 pandemic,” said the Punjab health minister.
Earlier today, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday allowed walk-in vaccination of citizens aged 18 and above from June 11 besides easing COVID restrictions nationwide.
Besides lowering the age bar for COVID vaccination in a meeting headed by Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, the NCOC also decided to restrict movement once a week, contrary to the previous ban on movement for two days a week.
“The provinces will independently decide on the day,” the body overseeing COVID strategy nationwide said adding that restrictions on shrines and cinemas would however continue.
Compensation for those getting vaccinated
Provincial Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid has said that the government is planning to give compensation to those getting vaccinated in the province. The minister has also expressed reservations over the reluctance being shown by a large number of people. “The situation in two districts Khanewal and Vehari is worrying,” she said.
Moreover, in the light of the guidelines of National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), the Punjab government has decided to set up district task forces to be headed by deputy commissioners to effectively implement the strategy for speeding up corona vaccination across the province.
The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Dr Yasmin Rashid at Civil Secretariat on the last Tuesday. The Chief Secretary Punjab, Additional Chief Secretary Home, administrative secretaries of health department, CCPO Lahore, Director General Public Relations and senior civil and military officials attended the meeting while all deputy commissioners participated through video link.
The each task force will include the district police officer, chief executive officer of district health authority and representatives of the NCOC and Provincial Disaster Management Authority as members. Similar task forces would also be formed at the tehsil level.
Addressing the meeting, Dr Yasmin said that all possible steps are being taken to speed up vaccination in the province. She said that mobile vaccination teams would also be formed to meet the target set by the NCOC for daily vaccination.
The provincial minister also issued instructions to the deputy commissioners of Lodhran, Hafizabad, Layyah, Muzaffargarh and Kasur to expedite the vaccination process in their respective areas.
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The Chief Secretary Punjab said that the economic conditions cannot afford repeated lockdowns and the eradication of the pandemic is possible only through vaccination. He said that the rate of positive cases is also lower in the districts where more people have been inoculated. He directed that an awareness campaign be launched about the importance and usefulness of getting vaccinated.