Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Jan 11: Wait is over, the COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in Kashmir and within few days immunization drive will commence in the Valley.
Doctors and health experts are emphasizing on that guard should be lowered and proper care needs to be taken till the pandemic ends. Another factor which worrying everyone is the new variant of the COVID-19. It has already entered into the country. Administration in Kashmir has already made the preparations in case of eventuality.
According to the officials, the immunization drive for the healthcare workers in the Valley has already begun and the COVID warriors are being secured as the first priority.
“When the pandemic broke out medicos fought against the pestilence with empty hands. They had no idea about how the virus will behave and would could be the possible remedies. During the past ten months hundreds of medicos turned COVID positive and many lost their lives,” said an expert.
He said that now the cure has been found but we should bear in mind that immunizing the entire population won’t be that easy and it’s a long drawn process. “People will have to wait till these vaccines are made available everywhere. Till then they have to follow the COVID protocol. We cannot afford to lower the guard in winters. We have to be careful.”
During the past few days the COVID curve has flattened in
Jammu and Kashmir as the number of cases have declined so have the casualties. “So far the immunization campaigns across the world have been successful. There have been some cases of people developing side effects but these have not been so severe,” said an analyst.
He said, “We hope in Kashmir also vaccines will work and the fear and uncertainty that has been prevailing for so long will end. People in Kashmir have faced the COVID bravely and are hoping that the tough time will end soon.”
“Till now the government has not announced the rate of the COVID vaccines. One hopes that the vaccines will be affordable and the ones who cannot afford will be provided these shields free of cost,” the analyst added.
An official said that people need not worry. “The government has calculated the cost of the vaccines and these will be affordable. The administration in the Valley has devised an efficient mechanism to administer these vaccines and within a few days, vaccinations will become available in all the districts across the Valley,” the official added.