Punjab vaccinates 85 per cent of school-going children

LAHORE: Dr Yasmin Rashid, Minister of Health, Punjab, stated that 85 per cent of school-going children in the stipulated vaccination age group had been vaccinated, and 100 per cent of children will soon be vaccinated. 

She joined the high-level NCOC video conference from the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department.  

Asad Umar, Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives, chaired the meeting. Dr Faisal Sultan, Special Assistant to Prime Minister, education and health ministers of all provinces and top officials, joined the meeting. 

Besides Dr Yasmin Rashid, Imran Sikander Baloch, Secretary, Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, Brigadier Asad, Additional Secretary, and technical team members joined from Punjab.  

Dr Yasmin shared the COVID-19 Pandemic situation and vaccination status. Murad Raas, Provincial Minister of Punjab for School Education, shared the latest vaccination figures of teachers and students at educational institutions of Punjab.

Dr Yasmin said, “So far, we have vaccinated 85 per cent of children at schools falling in the vaccination age group, and very soon, the target of 100 per cent vaccination shall be achieved. COVID-19 situation is under control yet. We have administered at least two vaccine doses to 57 per cent population of Punjab. Overall, 46 million have been vaccinated. In the first phase of the Reach Every Door campaign, more than 14 million people were vaccinated. Phase-II of the Reach Every Door campaign shall continue in Lahore and Faisalabad till January 31. We are implementing compliance with SOPs in the province as per NCOC recommendations. I request the people of Punjab to heed SOPs voluntarily. We have to take preventive measures in the wake of the spread of the Omicron variant. Sufficient resources are available for the treatment of patients at Punjab hospitals.”