Srinagar, Jan 13: Jammu and Kashmir today received the first batch of Covid-19 vaccine (Covishield) from Serum Institute of India, Pune. As many as 1,46,500 doses of Covishield vaccine have been received out of which 79,000 are for Kashmir division and 67,500 are for Jammu division.

The vaccine is being stored at the Divisional cold chain stores at Jammu and Kashmir divisions from where it will be distributed to all the Districts maintaining the cold chain at all levels.

Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr. Samir Mattoo and Dr. Qazi Haroon, State Immunization Officer, J&K received the vaccine at Divisional Vaccine store at Barzulla, Srinagar in Kashmir while as Dr. Renu Sharma, Director Health Services Jammu/ Director Family Welfare, J&K received the vaccine at Divisional vaccine store, DHS Jammu.

Speaking on the occasion, Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education has said that the vaccine will be sent to all the districts and immunization points across J&K. He informed that the vaccines will be ferried to far flung areas which are cut off due to heavy snowfall with the help of choppers, so that all the healthcare workers are vaccinated even in the most difficult and inaccessible areas of J&K.

The vaccination drive will start from 16th of January, 2021 all across the UT.