Over 1000 COVID vaccination sites set up across J&K as jabs for 15-17 age group begins today

857 centres established in schools alone

Govind Sharma/
Irfan Tramboo
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Jan 2: As the COVID-19 vaccination drive for the age group 15-17 is going to begin tomorrow in Jammu & Kashmir, the administration has set up over 1000 vaccination sites across the UT and made all necessary preparations for the smooth conduct of the drive.

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Director, Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization Dr Saleem ur Rehman, who is also holding additional charge of Director Health Services Jammu told Excelsior that they have set up 561 vaccination sites in Kashmir region and 459 in Jammu region. He said most of these vaccination sites have been set up in Government schools where the children falling in the specified age group will be vaccinated. These vaccination centres have been set up at the district, zonal and block levels in all the districts in coordination with the School Education Department, he added.
He informed that out of 459 vaccination centres in Jammu region, 340 have been established in schools and 119 at CHC and PHC level. “While, maximum 145 centres have been established in Jammu district, 69 have been set up in Ramban, 52 in Udhampur, 51 in Kathua, 34 in Doda, 30 in Reasi district, 28 in Poonch, 27 in Rajouri, 13 in Samba and 10 in Kishtwar district,” he said.
Similarly, he said, a total of 561 vaccination sites have been established in Kashmir region and of them, 517 have been set up in schools while remaining in CHCs and PHCs. “While 179 vaccination centres have been set up in district Anantnag, 45 in Bandipora, 50 in Baramulla, 29 in Budgam, 22 in Ganderbal, 42 in Kulgam, 44 in Kupwara, 92 in Pulwama, 12 in Shopian and 46 sites across Srinagar district,” he added.
The vaccination drive shall be kick started by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha from Government Boys Secondary School, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu while in Kashmir, the drive will be started by Additional Chief Secretary Health & Medical Education Department Vivek Bhardwaj from Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Kothi Bagh, Srinagar.
“Children taking the shot will have to remain under observation for half an hour to monitor adverse effects, the same as all eligible people. They will be given the second dose after 28 days. Beneficiaries falling under the 15-18 years age group can register online through an existing account on the CoWlN portal or can register by creating a new account by using a unique mobile number. The facility for online registration has already been made available from January 1. The walk-in facility and on the spot registration at the vaccination centres will also be facilitated for such beneficiaries,” the officials said.
Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather told Excelsior that the Health Department has already dispatched 3000 COVID vaccine doses to each district across Kashmir. He said in Srinagar, the vaccination centres have been set up at Government Girls Higher Secondary School Rajbagh, Government Girls Higher Secondary School Khanyar, Government Girls Higher Secondary School Chanpora, Government Girls Higher Secondary School Kothi Bagh, Government Girls Higher Secondary School Nawakadal and Government Girls Higher Secondary School Soura.
“The vaccination sites have also been set up in Srinagar at Government Boys Higher Secondary School Nawakadal, Government Boys Higher Secondary School Zadibal, Government Boys Higher Secondary School Tailbal and Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Hazratbal,” he said, adding, the district will also have 3 mobile vaccination sites at Rajbagh, Parray Pora and Botakadal.
Dr Mushtaq said that there is a detailed plan that has been laid out by the Department to carry out the vaccination across Kashmir and for that, the DHSK and the School Education Department will be working in close coordination. While stating that guidelines for the vaccination will remain what used to be followed earlier, he said apart from vaccinators, they will also have a doctor at vaccination sites to deal with any kind of emergency.
“Emergency kits have been kept there and we also have kept a few beds available at every vaccination site for the necessary observation; the sites will also have an ambulance stationed in case of any emergency. The Health Department has also made it a point for the vaccination of the age group 15-17 that any nearby hospital is kept in ready-mode in case of any adverse reaction following vaccination,” he added.
While the children are on winter vacation across Kashmir, Dr Mushtaq said that that is not going to result in any deferment as the concerned principals of the schools who will also be the Nodal Officers will make sure that the children are called in for the vaccination.