PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said that government accorded top priority to vaccination of health workers against Covid-19 as the two-month long drive started on Wednesday at 17 centres established to inoculate more than 30,000 healthcare providers in eight districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He termed the frontline health workers the real heroes of the nation for rendering services during the first wave of the pandemic. He launched the main campaign in the provincial metropolis and told the health workers, who were given doses in his presence, that government and people praised their dedication and professional competence while tackling the pandemic.

According to a statement, ceremonies were held in Kohat, Lakki Marwat and other districts to kick start the vaccination campaign in the province.

“We want to provide full protection to health staffers against the infection as they are battling the virus and risk infection. The government will expand scope of vaccination as National Command and Operation Centre has pledged continuous supply of vaccine as per our demand,” said the chief minister.

On the occasion, Hayatabad Medical Complex Director Dr Faisal Shehzad, Dr Mohammad Shah, Ayesha Zahir, Dr Abid Ali, Waqarullah, Tariq Rahim and Hameedullah were administered the vaccine.

Two-month vaccination drive against coronavirus launched in eight districts

“Initially, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has received the first batch of vaccine containing 16,000 doses. In the first phase, frontline health professionals would get shots in accordance with the prescribed guidelines,” said Mr Khan. He added that for the first phase of vaccination, eight districts with highest positivity rate for Covid-19 incidence were selected.

He appreciated Prime Minister Imran Khan for his vision to deal with the pandemic and said that free administration of vaccine to the health staffers was responsibility of the government.

The chief minister said that 3,194 health workers were affected by coronavirus and 32 of them died but they fought the pandemic bravely. He said that the frontline health workers were the real heroes of the nation as they rendered valuable services during the first wave of the pandemic.

In Kohat, the vaccination drive was launched at KDA Teaching Hospital by the commissioner. Dr Haroon was vaccinated to kick off the campaign.

Deputy Commissioner Abdur Rehman and the medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr Fazlur Rehman, were also on the occasion.

Dr Fazlur Rehman said that the vaccine was brought through a cool chain established in Liaquat Memorial Hospital under the supervision of the district coordinator of Expanded Programme on Immunisation, Dr Mohabat Khan.

The commissioner said that in the first phase, the frontline health workers including doctors, nurses and paramedics would be vaccinated.

In Bannu division, the vaccination drive against Covid-19 was launched on Wednesday as the frontline health workers were inoculated in Khalifa Gul Nawaz Teaching Hospital.

An official of the district administration said that Bannu division secured doses of the vaccine and the health workers would receive inoculations in the first phase. He said that the hospital’s additional director, Dr Amanullah Khan, and other physicians received the first shot of the vaccine.

The official said that health workers were trained to ensure safe administration of the vaccine. He said that trained vaccinators would take part in the drive against coronavirus.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2021