The pace of COVID-19 vaccination drive remained sluggish in J&K on Wednesday, even as the Union Territory (UT) administration had promised to resume it on “a war footing” from May 19 following severe shortages for over a week in the hospitals, especially in the Kashmir valley.
Also read: Covid-19 | Concern over ‘skewed inoculation between Jammu and Srinagar’
According to the official data, 7,611 doses were administered to eligible persons above the age of 45 in the entire UT. “Of the 7,611 doses, 7,055 were administered in the Jammu division and 556 in the Kashmir division,” officials said.
Srinagar saw 252 jabs while Jammu did not inoculate even a single person. Official figures suggested that the Kashmir division’s Kulgam, Pulwama, Kupwara and Bandipora districts too failed to inoculate any eligible person on Wednesday.
The Union Territory (UT) administration drew flak from the political parties and locals for the acute shortage.
The Jammu division has managed to inoculate 87.84% of the population above 45 compared to 61.20% in the Kashmir division.
According to the J&K Health department, the UT received a fresh consignment of Covishield vaccine on Tuesday. Contrary to the claims, the inoculation pace of less than 10,000 persons is on the lower side in J&K that saw 50,000 doses administered per day in April.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K. Pole on Tuesday said the J&K government has placed an order of 1.2 crore doses. “All efforts are being made to get the remaining population in the 45 above age group vaccinated in the coming days,” Mr. Pole said.
The UT administration is under fire from the political parties and locals for failing to ramp up vaccination drives in the face of growing cases. There are growing protests from the locals.
“I am a long-term diabetic and hypertensive patient. I am waiting for my second dose so that I can heave a sigh of relief. I have been visiting the Hazratbal health centre for 10 days now. I am only turned away,” Nazir Khan, 78, a resident of Kanitar, said.
Anantnag MP Hassnain Masoodi (National Conference) also expressed concern over the unavailability of vaccines. “The Anantnag district administration needs to ensure adequate supply.”
The main regional parties including the NC, the Peoples Democratic Party, the Peoples Conference and the J&K Apni Party have also demanded speeding up the process of vaccination.
