PESHAWAR: Dr. Shahzad Khan Bangash, Chief Secretary (CS) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), expressed his displeasure for not meeting the Covid-19 vaccination target on Monday and ordered the pertinent authorities to ensure that 80 percent of the province’s population had received the vaccine in light of the recent spike in cases. He gave the order to speed up vaccination procedures at all Medical Teaching Institutes, district headquarters hospitals, and their catchment areas while presiding over a conference to discuss a special Covid-19 vaccination campaign here.
He said that a weekly review meeting would be convened for effective monitoring of the drive and achievement of targets. The CS termed current vaccination coverage in the province as unsatisfactory, saying that to bring it to a satisfactory level, it was imperative to vaccinate at least 80 percent of the citizens. Shahzad Bangash also gave orders to all the districts to finish the backlog as quickly as possible. Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, and District Health Officers participated in the meeting via video link, along with the Secretary of Health, Director of PMRU, Coordinator of the Emergency Operation Center, and EPI Director. The EOC Coordinator informed the group that there is no shortage of vaccine and that stock is accessible. He added that, with the exception of district Charsadda, no district had met the weekly immunisation targets of more than 80%. Similarly, just four districts have given booster doses at a rate of 30% or higher.
