PATIALA: Referring to the advice given by the Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Punjan, Mr Husan Lal,in view of the impending shortage of important vaccines being used for the treatment of critically ill COVID patients admitted in Level-2 and Level-3 health care facilities in the state, the deputy commissioner Patiala, Kumar Amit appeals the doctors of the district to prescribe alternative medicines available in the market. He said that the expert group headed by Dr K K Talwar, Advisor, Health and Medical Education, Government of Punjab also recommended the prescription of Inj. Itolizumab and Inj. Dexamethasone for critical COVID patients as these are equally effective to that of Inj. Tocilizumab-400 mg. He said as per the reference given in the letter, as the Inj.Tucilizumab-400 mg was not manufactured in India and its availability in our country is also low, so we should opt for the other drugs available in the market for treating critical COVID patients.