Firdous Hassan
Srinagar: Health department has launched a massive social media campaign to clear misconceptions and instill confidence among people about Covid vaccines.
State Immunization Officer Dr. Qazi Haroon told The Kashmir Monitor that they are circulating videos showing health workers getting vaccinated on social media to instill confidence among people.
“Right now, the doctors and other health workers are being vaccinated. Their videos are being circulated to instill confidence among fellow health workers for vaccination. We are anticipating more people coming forward for vaccination in the coming days,” he said.
Recently, pictures and video of volunteers including Director SKIMS Soura Dr. AG Ahangar receiving Covid-19 vaccination shot was trending on social media.
Qazi said that many people have volunteered for vaccination which has sent positive signals across society. “People are coming forward for vaccination since there has not been any complication so far. More than numbers, safety is our first priority and all who received vaccination shots are healthy,” he said.
More than 40 HODs at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) and 30 HODs and doctors at Government Medical College, Jammu volunteered to take the first COVID shot on Saturday in a bid to clear apprehensions and instill confidence among the health workers.
Qazi said that 4500 health workers have been vaccinated in Jammu and Kashmir in the last three days.
“Health workers at JLNM Hospital, SKIMS Soura, GMC Ganderbal and Baramulla have been vaccinated. Sessions will increase in the coming days and we are anticipating more people to come for vaccination,” he said.
Qazi said the frontline workers including forces and employees of municipal and revenue department will be vaccinated in the second phase.
Last week, Jammu and Kashmir received the first batch of 1, 46,500 doses of Covishield vaccine from the Serum Institute of India, Pune. While 79,000 doses will be administered in the Kashmir division, 67,500 jabs will be given in the Jammu division.
Jammu and Kashmir has 123538 positive cases. As many as 1923 people have died due to the disease.
