15 days on, no slots available to register 18-44 years age group for vaccination

Srinagar, May 15: Even after the passage of 15 days, the government started a much hyped vaccination drive for 18-44 year old people in two districts, the people of rest of the 18 districts are waiting to get registered for vaccination.
The government on May 01 started a vaccination drive in Jammu and Srinagar for the 18-44 year old age group but they are yet to start the drive in the rest of the 18 districts.
Earlier, Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education Atal Dulloo had said that they are going to start a vaccination drive for the 18-44 year age group from 15th to 20th May.
“Earlier States/UTs were getting vaccines directly from the centre but now they have to purchase the vaccines directly from manufacturing companies and to avail first lot it will take around 15 days,” he said.
However, later the government decided to start the vaccination drive with Covaxin in Srinagar and Jammu but people of the other districts are yet to get the opportunity.
State immunisation officer Dr Shahid Hussain said that vaccines for the 18-44 year age group have reached here and the drive will be started from Monday or Tuesday.
“The deliberations at higher level are going on whether to cover first the people who have underlying problems or to vaccinate all in general,” he said. “There are around 61 lakh people coming in this category in Jammu and Kashmir who all will be covered under this drive.”