Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday said that the COVID-19 vaccination for the age group of 18-45 will not begin from May 1 in the Union Territory.
An official said that the actual vaccination date will be announced once the vaccine supply is established. However, he said that the vaccination will not be a walk in, but only through per-registration of slots.
He said 18-45 age group persons are requested not to crowd vaccination centers without booking slots, adding that the vaccination continues for the above 45 age group normally.
“While the registration for vaccination of eligibles persons in the age group 18-45 has been opened on COWIN, the actual vaccination will not begin from May 1, 2021. It will begin from a date to be announced later once the vaccine supply is established,” he said.
“Vaccination will not be a walk in but only through pre-registration of slots. No slots have been opened for booking a session. Please wait for the announcement of the vaccination start date for the 18-45 age group,” he added.
JK has ordered 1.24 crore vaccine to cover the entire 18-45 age group. This is among the highest in the country.
Advisor to Lt Governor Baseer Khan on Thursday night said that the Union Territory of J&K has already placed an order of 1.25 crore COVID-19 vaccines, which is the highest in the country. “We will be among the first to receive the vaccine,” Mr Khan told reporters during a late night press conference here on Thursday.
Meanwhile, rejecting ‘rumours’ that there is a shortage of oxygen, Remdesivir and other drugs required to treat COVID-19 patients in Kashmir, Mr Khan said that some people with vested interest are creating artificial scarcity to generate panic in Kashmir.
The COVID-19 cases have risen unabated in Kashmir valley, particularly the summer capital, Srinagar, which has recorded the major chunk of positive cases during the last about a fortnight. Srinagar alone, out of 3474 new COVID-19 cases in J&K, reported 1017 cases on Thursday, while Baramulla recorded 429 cases followed by Budgam with 268 cases and Anantnag with 228 cases.
As many as 3474 new positive cases of novel Coronavirus, including 1024 from Jammu division and 2450 from Kashmir division, were reported on Thursday. Twenty six people, including nine from Kashmir and 17 from Jammu, lost their lives to the virus yesterday.
