Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 25: Even as the entire country gears up for its next phase of Covid-19 vaccination from May 1 for everyone above 18 years of age, Jammu province is feared to run short of the supplies in the coming month.
Sources said while Jammu has stocks for around a fortnight, the further supplies will remain affected “for the time being.”
Sources said in the wake of certain modifications in the procurement of the vaccine, the government of Jammu and Kashmir had to approach the Serum Institute of India for further supplies.
It was reliably learnt that during an online meeting held on April 24, the Jammu and Kashmir government got to know that the supplies may remain affected “for the time being.”
Sources said the Serum Institute of India is busy supplying the vaccines to the worst affected states like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh and that Jammu and Kashmir was “not on the priority list.”
Official sources didn’t rule out delay in timely procurement of vaccines from the manufacturers.
The shortage is apprehended when Jammu and Kashmir government is preparing for the vaccination of about 65 lakh people in the 18-45 age group from May.
But the officials while ruling out exhaustion of stocks say government has impressed upon the officers to strictly implement the strategy of testing, vaccination, strict control in containment zones and promotion of COVID-19-appropriate behaviour among masses to prevent a further surge in the cases.
The officials said in the initial phases of COVID-19 vaccination, 75 per cent of health workers, 78 per cent of frontline workers, and 38 per cent of citizens above 45 years of age, totalling 15,25,604 people, have been vaccinated in Jammu and Kashmir with no reported case of any adversity.
The next phase of the vaccination for the 18-45 age group will cover approximately 65 lakh people, they said. |
