84-day gap for those travelling abroad relaxed, Sundays only for 2nd shot

The Punjab government will allow people in urgent need to travel abroad take the second dose of Covishield without waiting for mandatory 84 days

The Punjab government will allow people in urgent need to travel abroad take the second dose of Covishield without waiting for mandatory 84 days. Also, to better the state’s second dose figures, the government has also decided to hold special sessions every Sunday at government centres for the administration of the second shot.

Figures of those who have taken both the shots in Punjab are on the lower side. (HT Photo)

This relaxation for the administration of the second dose has also been extended to foreign nationals needing to return to their countries, health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said in a statement on Thursday.

For availing this relaxation in inoculation, the people needing to travel abroad for unavoidable reasons may be asked to produce a copy of travel documents such as visas, confirmed tickets and other documents justifying the urgency for undertaking the travel, he added.

This decision has been taken “as several Punjabis travel abroad for studies or some other important reasons”, the minister said.

“Coverage of Covid-19 vaccination or 2nd dose to beneficiaries remains critical for the successful impact of the vaccination drive. So, it has been decided to earmark every Sunday for the Covid vaccination session at all government Covid vaccination centres only for administering the second dose among due beneficiaries,” he said.

Normal vaccination sessions for the first and second doses of the vaccine will remain the same during the weekdays except Sunday.

On the vaccination drive in the state, Sidhu said till August 31, the state had inoculated 1.36 crore people, of which 32.8 had taken both the doses. He appealed to the public to get themselves vaccinated without hesitation.