Srinagar, Jammu continue to lag behind
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Jan 23: Even as the administration claimed that the target of vaccinating the 15-18 age group will be achieved within 10 days in J&K at the time of kick-starting the drive, the numbers suggest that so far 63 per cent of the population falling under the age group has received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in J&K while 68 per cent have received their first jab in Kashmir and 57 in Jammu.
The vaccination drive for the age group started from January 3 and the figures available suggest that, up to January 23, 63 per cent of the children in the age group have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is to state, out of total 833000 eligibles under the age group, 528737 beneficiaries across J&K have received their first vaccine shot.
Further, up to January 22, in the district, Srinagar 32 per cent citizens in the 15-18 age group have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 71 per cent in Kulgam, 100 per cent in Shopian, 57 per cent in Bandipora, 100 per cent in Anantnag, 73 per cent in Baramulla, 37 per cent in Kupwara, 82 per cent in Pulwama, 100 per cent in Ganderbal and 82 per cent in Budgam.
As per numbers, there is a total target of administering the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine to 4,67,763 beneficiaries in the age group under focus across Kashmir, while as out of the total, so far, 3,19,764 have received their first dose, which is slightly over 68 per cent.
With regard to Jammu Division, as per details up to January 23, in district Jammu, 49 per cent of citizens in the 15-18 age group have received their first dose, 26 per cent in Kishtwar, 49 per cent in Doda, 62 per cent in Udhampur, 54 per cent in Kathua, 53 per cent in Ramban, 57 per cent in Samba, 73 per cent in Rajouri, 100 per cent in Poonch and 34 per cent in Reasi.
Numbers suggest that there is a total target of administering the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine to 3,65,237 beneficiaries in the age group under focus in Jammu Division, while as so far, 2,08,973 beneficiaries have received their vaccine shot, which was over 57 per cent.
Keeping in view the pace of the vaccination, the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir (DHSK) had also issued a circular directing the District Health Officers to intensify the drive of vaccination for the 15-18 age group in Kashmir.
“It is enjoined upon all the Chief Medical Officers, Dy Chief Medical Officers, Medical Superintendents & Block Medical Officers of Kashmir Division to intensify the vaccination drive for the age group of 15-18 and data on the same be shared with the Directorate on daily basis,” the circular read.
Notably, as per the target under age group 15-18, Jammu followed by Srinagar has the highest number of beneficiaries to be vaccinated across J&K.
Jammu in this regard has 1,03,882 beneficiaries out of which, up to January 23,51276 have received first shot, which is 49%. Similarly, the Srinagar district has 83,975 beneficiaries, out of which, up to January 23,27027 beneficiaries have received their shot, which is a mere 32 per cent.
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