Terming the new COVID-19 vaccination policy for people above 18 age group as "unfair" to the states, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday sought Centre-State parity in vaccination for the said age group from May 1, while calling for urgent steps to ensure adequate oxygen supply.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's virtual conference to discuss the COVID-19 situation with chief ministers of the worst-hit states, Captain Amarinder said his government has adopted all measures to minimise demand for oxygen and demanded that the Central government must ensure that all commitments as per the allocation complied with by liquid oxygen manufacturers in other states.
Singh further said, "Punjab's supplies come from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and there are reports of supplies being hijacked". On the vaccination front, the Chief Minister said at the rates declared by one manufacturer, the cost to the Punjab government will over Rs 1,000 crores. He sought central government funding for vaccination, with permission to make the cost a fit charge on SDRF funds in the interim.
He stressed, "Regular vaccine supply must ensure to maintain the supply chain to the last vaccination booth. Due to supply shortage, the vaccination in last one week has been slightly low –around 75-80,000 daily. While Punjab received fresh supplies yesterday on (Thursday). The current stocks can last only three days as demand for vaccine is increasing."
Citing the increase in the number of cases to around 5000 per day, with 10 per cent positivity. From around 3000/day with 8 percent positivity during the last video conference on April 8. The Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister to direct central institutions like AIIMS Bathinda. PGI Satellite Centres and Military Hospitals in Punjab to provide additional Covid beds.
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