Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Aug 11: With the vaccination process against the COVID-19 going on in full swing, Jammu and Kashmir has got no dedicated vaccination centres for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
Even as the normal situations often prove out to be challenging for persons with disabilities, the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the need for the vaccination, in the absence of special vaccination centres, is proving to be quite challenging for them.
Officials told EXCELSIOR that earlier, special drives for the vaccination of persons with disabilities were held in various districts across J&K to cover the PwDs under the COVID-19 vaccination; however, no special vaccination centres have been established anywhere in J&K.
“About people with disabilities, districts did special drives initially. Presently there are no exclusive sites anywhere in J&K,” officials said.
The officials added that while most of the beneficiaries with regard to the PwDs have been covered across the Union Territory, there are clear-cut directions issued down the line to prioritize such people in every district.
Notably, these people are also facing issues in registering for the vaccination slot as most of them do not possess mobile phones; however, the same issue was, to some extent, resolved following the on-site registration coupled with the priority given to the PwDs across the districts.
On the other hand Delhi, Mumbai and several other states in the country have already started dedicated vaccination centres for the PwD, however, despite a huge number of such people in the Union Territory and despite growing demand for the same, the Government is yet to decide on setting up of such centres across the UT.
Pertinently with regard to the general vaccination against the COVID-19, so far, 99 per cent of the population in the 45+ age group across the UT has been given the first dose of the vaccine, while as 15 districts have reported 100% vaccination coverage while 5 districts have reported over 96% vaccination coverage.
With regard to the 18-44 age group, so far 36% of the population has been vaccinated across J&K, while as total vaccine doses administered so far is 68, 90,037.
In the meantime, the J&K Handicapped Association (JKHA) informed EXCELSIOR that there are over 7 lakh, handicapped persons, across J&K falling under over 20 categories while a nominal percentage of them have been vaccinated so far
President JKHA Abdul Rashid said that as per estimates out of 7 lakh, not more than 10, 000 PwDs have been vaccinated against the COVID-19 so far while demanding that special vaccination sites must be established for effective vaccination coverage across J&K.
“There should be special centres opened up for the PwDs and if that is not possible then the doorstep vaccination should be started for them,” he said.
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