Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, July 26: Five districts of Jammu and Kashmir- 2 in Kashmir and 3 in Jammu- are lagging behind in administering the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to those falling in the age group of 12-14 years.
In this regard, as per details, districts that are lagging behind in dose-2 of the vaccine in the said age group include Srinagar, Jammu, Bandipora, Kishtwar and Samba.
The figures suggest that in district Srinagar, there is a total target population of 60465 in the 12-14 years age group, out of which 49584 have received their first dose, which is 82%, while 37885 have received their second dose, which is 63%. At the same time, in the 15-17 age group, in the district, 87% of the beneficiaries have been covered.
In Bandipora, there is a total target population of 19175 in the 12-14 years age group, out of which, 16719 have received their first dose which is 87% while only 9564, which is 50%, have received their second COVID-19 vaccine. The district, in the age group 15-17, has covered 93% of the beneficiaries.
Jammu, which has recorded the lowest numbers in the administration of the second dose to the 12-14 years age group, has a total target population of 74795, out of which 45858, which is 61%, have received the first dose while as only 31365, which is 42%, lowest in the lowest across J&K, have received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Similarly, Kishtwar has a total target population of 11278 in the 12-14 years age group, of which 7339, which accounts for 65%, have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccination, while 5769, which accounts for 51%, have received their second COVID-19 vaccine dose. In the district, nearly 99% of the beneficiaries have been covered in the 15-17 age group.
In district Samba, there is a total target population of 15590 souls in the 12-14 years age group, out of which 11728, which is 75%, have received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose while 10180, which is 65%, have received their second dose.
It is to be noted here that people falling in the 12-14 years and 15-17 years age groups are not approved by the health ministry for taking the 3rd COVID-19 shot-termed as precaution dose-which makes the administration of a second dose of the vaccine necessary for enhanced protection against the COVID as the positive cases witness another surge across J&K.
Officials said that while the COVID booster doses are being administered across J&K to those who are eligible, those who are due for the second dose in the age groups that are less than 18 should also go and get the same.
“The facilities are available everywhere, they can go and get their shot; the parents are also requested to get their children vaccinated with the second vaccine shot; the same has become necessary in the wake of an increase in the COVID cases,” the officials said.
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