First batch of COVID-19 vaccines reaches Srinagar

Srinagar: The first batch of COVID-19 vaccines reached Srinagar on Wednesday afternoon with officials saying that the first dose will be given to healthcare workers.

“Today, we received our first batch of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination will be started on January 16 across the country for which department has already done the groundwork and mock drills,” officials said.

State Immunisation Officer, Dr Qazi Haroon told KNO that they received the first batch of vaccines in Srinagar on Wednesday afternoon that will be forwarded to different areas so that the vaccination drive can be started along with other states on January 16.

Qazi said that they have arranged choppers to take vaccines to far-off places in J&K like Gurez, Tanghdar and Karnah and they will all be ready by Friday to start the vaccination process along with the entire country on Saturday.

Pertinently, the first phase of the vaccination drive will cover 30 crore people in India.

India has authorised two COVID-19 vaccines — indigenous Bharat Biotech’s COVAXIN and the Oxford-AstraZeneca & Serum Institute of India vaccine COVISHIELD for emergency use. (KNO)