Neyaz Elahi
Srinagar (NVI): The COVID-19 vaccination drive began in Jammu and Kashmir today, with first shot administered to Director of SKIMS, A G Ahangar in the Union Territory.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the vaccination drive in Jammu, while in Kashmir region Advisor to Lt Governor, R R Bhatnagar and District Development Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Shahid Choudhary inaugurated the drive.
The first vaccine shot was administered to Director of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Dr A G Ahangar and a sanitation worker.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the India’s vaccination program at around 10:30 at Kashmir’s premier health institute SKIMS Soura in Srinagar outskirts.
Last week, Kashmir received 79,000 doses of ‘Covishield’, the COVID-19 vaccine which is manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII).
In addition, Ahangar said that these vaccines will be administered to people in phase wise. COVID-19 affected patients will get this vaccine in phase 4.
He said over 4,000 health workers will get the vaccine today. “The much awaited drive against SARS CoV2 infection started today at 10:30 pm. This vaccine is for everyone working on the frontlines at the hospital. The day will see faculty, doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and other categories of staff getting the shot.”
Ahangar further said that this vaccine will be administered at 40 locations. He added SKIMS and all other vaccination sites had been equipped with manpower to register and monitor all events related to the administering of Covishield vaccine.
Doctors Association Kashmir President Dr Nisar-ul-Hasan recently in a statement claimed that this vaccine can be administered to pregnant women and even to the people suffering from different allergies.
-RJV
