Float global tenders to end vaccine paucity in J&K, PC urges LG admin

Srinagar May 16: Terming the ‘paucity of COVID-19 vaccines in Kashmir as extremely worrying’, the Peoples Conference (PC) on Sunday urged the Lt Governor administration to float global tenders for the procurement of the vaccines.
Former legislator and senior PC leader Imran Raza Ansari said that if immediate remedial measures aren’t taken, the scarcity of vaccines can put the lives of millions of people from J&K at risk.
Ansari alleged that the health centers across the valley are battling the shortage of COVID-19 vaccines and that many centers, as per the reports, have been closed due to the unavailability of vaccines.
“There is a wave of mounting anger and frustration due to tardy vaccination rollout in J&K with some high-risk groups crying out for protection. The vaccine is the only bulwark available against the current calamity and denying the populace such a facility amid the present peak is deplorable and inexplicable,” Ansari said.
He said that if reports are to be believed, there were mere 208 jabs administered to the people in Kashmir in the last 24 hours while as in Jammu 20,000 people have received the vaccine during the same time. “We care for the people of all regions as much as we care for ourselves but prioritizing one region and ignoring the other amidst the deadly pandemic is regrettable. We demand an absolute uniformity in the supply of the vaccines in Jammu and Kashmir. Precious human lives are getting consumed and the shortage of vaccines is only making things worse,” he said.
Ansari further urged the LG administration to take a cue from other states and invite global tenders for the procurement of vaccines. “Experts are warning against the third wave and the only way that we are going to win the fight against Covid is by vaccinations. Ample stock jabs and enhancement in the existing health care infrastructure are the only means by virtue of which we wouldn’t abandon the hope of being cured,” the PC General Secretary said.