Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Mar 16: The COVID-19 vaccination for the 12-14 age group started today across Kashmir with over 4000 doses administered on the day first even as the authorities are aiming to cover over three lakh eligible teenagers across the Valley in coming days.
In Srinagar, the vaccination drive was launched at Govt Girls Higher Secondary School, Rajabgh where the officials from the Health Department and the district administration were present who talked about the need for the COVID-19 vaccination for the 12-14 age group.
For the day, across Kashmir, at least 105 vaccination sites were set up which included 14 vaccination sites in Anantnag, 7 in Kulgam, 12 in Shopian, 7 in Pulwama, 16 in Srinagar, 10 in Budgam, 12 in Baramulla, 14 in Kupwara, 7 in Bandipora and 6 in Ganderbal.
The officials said that the teen vaccine beneficiaries falling in the 12-14 age group will be given SARS-CoV-2 VaVaccine CorBEvax manufactured by Biological E. Lmt Telangana, India.
While giving the details about the vaccination program, spokesperson DHSK, Dr Mir Mushtaq said the targeted population of children between 12-14 years in Jammu and Kashmir is 5,99,700, of which 3,36,758 belong to the Kashmir division.
As per details, in Srinagar, there are 60,465 eligible teenagers under the age group 12-14 for whom the vaccination has been started, 20,752 in Kulgam, 13,015 in Shopian, 19,175 in Bandipora, 52,734 in Anantnag, 49,280 in Baramulla, 42,549 in Kupwara, 27,398 in Pulwama, 14,541 in Ganderbal and 36,848 in Budgam.
Officials informed Excelsior that throughout the day, over 4903 vaccine doses were administered across Kashmir at over 100 vaccine sites that were set up apart from routine sites to avoid the mixing of the vaccines while over 5000 vaccine shots were also administered in the Jammu region.
As per details, throughout the day, 293 COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered to 293 individuals in the 12-14 age group in district Anantnag, 433 in Kulgam, 504 in Shopian, 332 in Pulwama, 276 in Srinagar, 454 in Budgam, 1004 in Baramulla, 1429 in Kupwara, 30 in Bandipora and 148 in district Ganderbal.
In Srinagar, the Additional Commissioner to Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Abid Hussain and Director Health Services Kashmir (DHSK), Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather launched the Covid-19 vaccination at Rajbagh and highlighted the importance of the vaccination.
Dr Rather appealed the parents and the children to come forward and get vaccinated. “It is safe for the children and it is a precautionary measure in view of any kind of outbreak,” he said.
He said that the vaccines have reached the sub-centre level in every district across Kashmir to ensure that those eligible get their vaccine shot.
“We have been able to vaccinate 15-17 age group in a record time and we hope that the vaccination of 12-14 age group is also completed soon, for which, he said, public cooperation is essential,” he said.
In this regard, the authorities have also asked the school heads of public and private schools, teachers and students to continue to follow Covid Appropriate Behaviour and maintain social distancing and ensure that the children falling in the said age group are vaccinated.
Insha, one of the students who received the COVID-19 vaccination shot on the day urged those falling in the said age group to get vaccinated so that everyone is safe.
“I have received my vaccine shot. We need to ensure we are back to schools with safety. Everyone should get their COVID vaccination shot as I did,” she said.
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