J&K to start Covishield vaccine programme

Jammu and Kashmir is all set to start Covid19 vaccination programme in J&K on 16th January. The first batch of Covid-19 vaccine(Covishield) was received from Serum Institute of India, Pune. As many as 1,46,500 doses of Covishield vaccine have been received out of which 79,000 are for Kashmir division and 67,500 are for Jammu division.

The vaccine is being stored at the Divisional cold chain stores at Jammu and Kashmir divisions from where it will be distributed to all the Districts maintaining the cold chain at all levels, officials said.

Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr. Samir Mattoo and Dr. Qazi Haroon, State Immunization Officer, J&K received the vaccine at Divisional Vaccine store at Barzulla, Srinagar in Kashmir while as Dr. Renu Sharma, Director Health Services Jammu/ Director Family Welfare, J&K received the vaccine at Divisional vaccine store, DHS Jammu.

Speaking on the occasion, Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education has said that the vaccine will be sent to all the districts and immunization points across J&K. He informed that the vaccines will be ferried to far flung areas which are cut off due to heavy snowfall with the help of choppers, so that all the healthcare workers are vaccinated even in the most difficult and inaccessible areas of J&K.

Officials informed KNS that Government has decided to give 1st dose of vaccine to health care workers.For efficient vaccination programme, health Department has already fixed all modalities to roll it out.

Official sources informed KNS that Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha will kick off COVID-19 vaccination drive from Government Medical College, Jammu. 2700 people across the Union Territory will receive vaccination on Day one at 27 designated sites which will be subsequently raised to over 1000.
It is pertinent the UT Government has so far registered 1.07 lakh health workers across the Union Territory for vaccination in the first phase.
Officials have designated 1100 vaccination sites across J&K where COVID-19 vaccine will be administered.

Government Medical College, Jammu and Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar have been identified as two major vaccination sites while almost all other major health institutions including Medical Colleges, District and Sub District Hospitals are likely to be used for giving vaccine to the people over a period of time, official's added.