SRINAGAR : The Covid-19 vaccination drive for children from 15-17 years age group was today rolled out across all the districts of Kashmir by the respective district heads.

On the occasion, the Deputy Commissioners encouraged the eligible teenagers to come forward and get vaccinated at nearest session sites to safeguard themselves as vaccination is extremely important for immunity against the Covid-19 infection.

The eligible teenagers are being given Covaxin dose by the Health workers as Bharat Biotech’s COVAXIN is the only vaccine with Emergency Use Listing (EUL) for the 15-18 years age-group and recommended by ‘Covid-19 Working Group’ of the National Technical Advisory Group on immunization.

At Budgam: The Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Shahbaz Ahmed Mirza today launched a mega vaccination drive for 15-17 years age group of children.

While inaugurating the drive at Boys Higher Secondary School Budgam, the DC said that as many as 52000 children in this age group shall be covered under the vigorous vaccination drive to be carried out across the district.

He said that 56 centers have been established in the district, where children between this age group shall be vaccinated. He said that the drive shall go smoothly at all centers to cover all eligible children before Januray-10, as the target.

He said that besides Higher Secondary Schools, the vaccination centers have been also set up at other places to ensure timely and hassle- free vaccination of all.

Lauding the role of health authorities and other concerned, the DC said that the district has already achieved the 100 percent target in both vaccination dozes among above 18 year age group.

In order to ensure safety of health workers, co- morbid and above 60 years age group, the DC said that a booster doze of vaccination shall be given to these categories of persons after Januray-10, across the district.

Among others, CMO Budgam, Dr. Tajamul, CEO Education, Syed Mohammad Amin, Deputy CMO Dr. Tehmeena Bukhari Principal BHSS Budgam, Abdul Rasheed, teachers, medical staff and other concerned were also present on the occasion.

During the drive, scores of students were vaccinated.

At Ganderbal: The Covid-19 vaccination drive was today rolled out in the district which was kick-started by the Additional Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Farooq Ahmad Baba at Government Boys Higher Secondary School, here.

During the Covid-19 vaccination drive for children in the 15-17 year age group, 20218 children are targeted for inoculation in the district.

Meanwhile, the ADC visited various vaccination sites accompanied by Deputy CEO and CMO Ganderbal and monitored the vaccination processes.

Speaking on the occasion, the ADC said that 22 vaccination sites are established in identified Government/Private schools in the district and district administration has made all the necessary arrangements at the vaccination sites where the children falling under the targeted age group will be vaccinated.

At Baramulla: Covid-19 vaccination drive between the age group of 15-17 years was today launched across Baramulla district which was formally kicked-off by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Baramulla, Bhupinder Kumar at Govt Boys Higher Secondary School, here.

The vaccination drive was launched in presence of Chief Medical Officer Baramulla, Dr. Bashir Ahmad Malik and Chief Education Officer Baramulla, G.M. Lone besides other senior officers and children eligible for vaccination.

On the occasion, the Covid-19 vaccine was administered to the childrens between the age group of 15-17 years.

It was informed that as many as 100 vaccination centers including observation centers have been established in educational institutions in Baramulla district where Covid-19 vaccination will be administered to 68440 children out of which 48367 are from educational institutions and 2083 are dropouts from Orphan and other category.

Speaking at the event, the DC expressed satisfaction regarding the arrangements and said that the vaccination drive launched today will be completed till 10th January of this month

The DC directed for completion of 10,000 vaccinations per day till 10th January in order to accomplish the target smoothly.

Moreover, he appealed to the general public that as per the drafted plan the vaccines shall be administered category wise, and each of the beneficiary should enthusiastically come forward for vaccination as these vaccines are fully safe and any one can get it without fear or any apprehension.

On the occasion, CMO Baramulla informed that all arrangements required for pre and post care for vaccinated persons are in place at each designated centre and health authorities are ready in all capacity to oversee the needful amid Covid-19 vaccination drive.

Meanwhile, the vaccination drive was also launched across the district in presence of respective district heads at identified vaccination centers.

At Anantnag: The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anantnag, Dr Piyush Singla today inaugurated the vaccination drive for 15 to 17 years age group at HSS Ranibagh, Anantnag.

While interacting with the students and the staff of the institute, the DC said that COVID vaccination has reduced the number and severity of positive cases throughout the country and every eligible person must get vaccinated.

He stressed that the parents of these eligible children must ensure that they get vaccinated to safeguard them against Covid-19 risks.

He directed the heads of educational institutions to ensure 100 percent vaccination of enrolled eligible students is taken up. He further instructed the staff to maintain record of number and percentage of vaccinated students of their schools.

Health department was directed to keep vaccination and associated staff available in the schools from today onwards.

The DC was accompanied by ADC Gh. Hassan Sheikh, CMO, Dy CMO, Medical staff and the staff members of the institute.

Meanwhile, similar drives were conducted in all tehsils of Anantnag under the supervision of concerned SDMs and Tehsildars.

At Pulwama: The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Pulwama, Baseer Ul Haq Choudhary today inaugurated the Covid-19 vaccination exclusively for childrens from age group (15-17) years at Girls Higher Secondary School Pulwama, here.

While briefing the media persons, the DC said that for the convenience of childrens age group 15-17 years, the initiative has been taken by the District Administration and Health department who are standing in queue for vaccination.

Choudhary appealed to the children from age group 15-17 years to go for Covid-19 vaccination to avoid the spread of Covid-19 infection as vaccination is extremely important for immunity against the COVID-19 infection.

Chief Medical Officer and Block Medical Officer, Pulwama besides other officers and officials were present on the occasion.

At Shopian: The District Administration, Shopian today kick-started Covid-19 vaccination drive in the age group between 15 to 17 years under the supervision of District Magistrate, Shopian, Sachin Kumar Vaishya across the district.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Shopian, Mushtaq Ahmad Simnani kick-started vaccination drive at Government District Hospital, Shopian.

Speaking on the occasion, the ADC said that the need of the hour is to get our children in the age group 15-17 years vaccinated to safeguard them from Covid-19. He stressed for following Covid Appropriate Behaviour and other guidelines issued off and on in letter and spirit. He said that all the arrangements have been put in place at the vaccination sites in the district to make the drive a great success.

Chief Medical Officer Shopian, Dr Arshid Tak said that the district will achieve the target of 2300 children within the shortest possible time as the district has already become first in achieving the target of 100 percent vaccination of above 45 years of age.

At Kulgam: The District Administration Kulgam today kick-started vaccination drives for teenagers in the age group of 15-17 years.

The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam, Dr.Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat visited the vaccination site at Government Girls Higher Secondary School and launched the process of vaccination.

The process commenced smoothly and special vaccination sites were established across the district to vaccinate the beneficiaries.

Speaking on the occasion, the DC said that all requisite arrangements have been put in place to carry out the vaccination process smoothly.

He added that to vaccinate the target group more than 42 vaccination sites have been established with proper arrangements to achieve 100 percent coverage of eligible children in the age group of 15-18 within shortest possible time.

It was informed that more than 31,000 children are ranging in age group of 15-18 years in the district.

At Bandipora: The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmad on Monday inaugurated the vaccination drive for children between the age group of 15-17 years.

The DC inaugurated the drive by vaccinating the students at Government Higher Secondary School Nadihal.

He was accompanied by Senior Superintendent of Police Mohammad Zahid, Chief Medical Officer Dr Bashir Ahmad, Chief Education Officer Abdul Rouf Shaad, Tehsildar Bandipora, Principal Hr Secondary Nadihal and other senior officers of the district.

The DC while speaking on the occasion stated that vaccination centres have been established at all major schools in the district to vaccinate the targeted age group.

He said the district intends to vaccinate 26639 children of the age 15-17 age group and a plan has been already devised to vaccinate children in the shortest possible time.

Dr Owais urged the children of the age 15-17 to get vaccinated at earliest and appealed to the parents to ensure their wards are vaccinated immediately.

Meanwhile, vaccination of 15-17 years age group was also inaugurated in Sub Division Sumbal and Gurez. During the day-long inaugural exercise, about 1600 children were vaccinated across the district.

At Kupwara: The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kupwara, Imam Din today inaugurated vaccination of 15-17 year age group at a function organized at Government Boys Higher Secondary School (GBHSS) Kupwara during the winter tutorial session.

Addressing the function, the DC said that the vaccination for 15-18 year age group of children has been kick-started to safeguard them from any Covid related infection and to continue their studies. He appealed the students who got vaccinated to become ambassadors and inform other children to vaccinate themselves for their safety and safety of others.

The DC appealed the people to follow Covid Appropriate behaviour (CAB) religiously and those who are yet to get second dose of vaccine to inoculate themselves at nearest vaccination centre. He impressed that CAB and vaccine are the only tools to get safety against the deadly Covid-19 and its new variant Omicron.

Principal GBHSS, Mehraj-u-din Shah; District Health Officer, Abdul Gani Dar and other concerned were present at the occasion.

Hands-on training regarding RTPCR testing of faculty/ Scholars from different institutions of Kashmir division started in GMC Srinagar on the directions of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir.