Jammu and Kashmir is set to receive the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday with officials saying that the first dose will be given to health care workers.
“On Tuesday, we will get our 1st batch of Covid-19 vaccine and vaccination will be started on 16 January across the country for which department has already done groundwork and mock drills,” officials said.
State Immunisation Officer, Dr Qazi Haroon said that they were expecting 2.5 lakh vaccines today, however, due to some issues, vaccines didn’t reach but will be available by tomorrow.
Qazi said that more vaccines would arrive in coming weeks. “Vaccines will reach by air in cold storage chains,” he said.
Pertinently, the first phase of the vaccination drive will cover 30 crore people in India. India has authorised two Covid-19 vaccines – indigenous Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and the Oxford-Astra Zeneca & Serum Institute of India vaccine Covishield for emergency use.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a meeting (virtual mode) with all Chief Ministers of all states besides Governors of Union Territories on Monday said that India is in a decisive stage and from January 16, the world’s largest vaccination drive would start in India.
He said that two vaccines got emergency use approval and four more vaccines are in the process.
“We will have more vaccines in the second phase hopefully,” he said.
Health workers, sanitation workers, police, paramilitary, civil defence who are around 3 crore in total will get a vaccination in the first phase. The decision was taken after deliberation with states. The vaccination would be free of cost.
Meanwhile,The SK Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Medical College is all set to resume non-COVID activities from January 12 while all departments along with IPD services will be started from January 15.
Administration has stated that as a follow up of de-notifying of SKIMS Medical College as COVID designated hospital, the non-COVID activities of the hospital shall be initiated w.e.f. 12/01/2021 and subsequently all departments along with IPD services shall be started in full w.e.f. 15/01/2021.
The authorities in order to implement the fresh decision has ordered that all the roasters in connection with handling with COVID patients shall be treated null and void with immediate effect except Consultant, Registrar and JR Roster of General Medicine issued vide number SKIMS/MCH/20/8132-36 dated 19/12/2020 & SKIMS/MCH/20-21/79-82 dated 04-01-2021.
“As such, all the staff off the hospital shall resume their duties w.e.f. 12/01/2021,” the order reads.
It added that all the staff-Doctors, Registrars, Junior Residents, Nursing Staff (supervisors and In-Charges), Pharmacists Ministerial Staff, Technicians, Store Keepers, Orderlies, lab attendants, Nursing aids, Casual Labourers etc are hereby repatriated to their original place of posting existing in March, 2020.
The order also directed the Head of Departments and Sectional heads of the concerned departments to make roster of their doctors and staff w.e.f. 12/01/2021 for In-Patient admissions in their respective wards, adding that they shall ensure proper implementation of COVID-19 guidelines in their respective wards and departments.
