CHANDIGARH: Punjab government has reduced the gap for administering the second dose of Covishield vaccine to 28 days for individuals seeking to undertake foreign travel.
The state had taken up the issue with Centre to reduce prescribed time of second dose of Covishield to provide full coverage to facilitate international travellers, especially students who are not covered in priority groups.
Punjab health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said students were not able to go overseas for studies even after paying hefty fees.
Students and their parents were repeatedly requesting Punjab to reduce the gap from 84 days.
Sidhu said the Union ministry of health and family welfare has issued the recommendations to reduce of gap between first and second dose to 28 days for students who had to undertake foreign travel for the purposes of education.
Similarly, persons who have to take up jobs in foreign countries, athletes, sportspersons and accompanying staff of Indian contingent attending International Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo.
These instructions have been issued to all deputy commissioners for further action.
He said the vaccination certificate would be issued by the district immunisation officer.
The relaxations would be in force for international travel up to August 31, 2021.
Giving details about the consignment of state’s procured Covishield and Covaxin for age groups of 18-44 in June, he said that central government would deliver 1,56,720 doses on June 11, 1,30,160 on June 17, 1,56,720 on June 19 and 1,32,150 doses on July 1.
In the same way, 25,000 doses of Covaxin will be received on June 20 and 12,000 on June 23 and 19,370 doses on June 28.
He said that 50,000 doses of Covaxin were received on Tuesday.
He said that a total of 5,75,750 doses of Covishield would be received in the next 23 days, whereas 1,10,370 doses of Covaxin would be arriving in the next 20 days.
Disclosing the purchase order sent to Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech, Sidhu said amount of around Rs 12 crore was paid for 3,80,350 doses of Covishield on May 25 and Rs 6.15 crore for 1,95,400 doses of Covishield on June 1.
He said Rs 4.75 crore has paid for 1,13,120 doses of Covaxin on June 1.