Srinagar, May 16 (KMS): In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, amid spike in the Covid-19 cases and deaths, the Kashmir valley is facing acute shortage of Coronavirus vaccines.
There is a shortage of vaccine in almost every health care facility across the Valley as a result of which Coronavirus vaccinations have practically come to a halt in Kashmir with many districts reporting zero doses administered on Saturday. Only 504 people were vaccinated across 10 districts in the valley on Saturday. Srinagar district reported zero vaccination.
As per officials, no vaccines are available in the region because supplies have not been replenished in the last week. “We received the last supply of vaccines last Saturday. There are no vaccines available,” said a senior officer.
Reportedly, vaccination for the age group above 18 has hardly moved beyond symbolism in Jammu and Kashmir. There are just two vaccination centres for those above 18 years of age across the territory giving only 300 shots a day. This too was halted after supplies stopped for the last one week. Those who have taken the first dose of vaccine around two months before, are waiting to get the second jab of the vaccine.
People questioned the policy of the authorities that, on one hand, they have been requesting to follow Covid appropriate behavior and get vaccinated at an earliest but, on the other, there is a dearth of vaccines. They urged the authorities to make vaccines available at the earliest.
Immunization Officer of the territory, Dr. Shahid Hussain admitted the shortage of Covishield vaccine.
Jammu and Kashmir reported 3,677 COVID-19 cases and 63 deaths on Saturday, taking the tally of infections past 2.40 lakh, while fatalities to 3,090.