Amarinder Singh Asks Center To Ensure Prioritised COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation For Punjab

As the nation gets ready for the likely beginning of vaccination drives in India in the weeks to come, Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab Amarinder Singh yesterday (6 December) urged Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi that the Centre should ensure priority allocation of the COVID-19 vaccines to Punjab, reports Economic Times.

Singh's letter to PM Modi tried to push the case for priority allocation by making a mention of the State's higher fatality rate and high levels of co-morbidities. He pushed that the State needed special attention in the allocation of the vaccines, once it is available. He also asked if the Centre was going to fully fund the vaccination.

Singh also asked for the expansion of the definition of frontline workers for prioritised vaccination, calling for the inclusion of administrative officials and others who carry the onus for essential functions. He also asked for further clarity on the principles based on which the priority groups are being identified for sequential vaccinations.

Singh also took the letter as a means to thank the Centre for supporting the State during the pandemic and congratulate PM Modi for taking all the special steps to make the vaccine available to the citizenry. He also took it as an opportunity to apprise PM Modi that Punjab has already undertaken preparatory activities for an effective vaccination programme.