Even as the recorded minimum temperature plummeted to -8 degrees Celcius in snow-bound Srinagar in the Kashmir division of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, determined vaccinators and support teams stepped out in sub-zero conditions to administer COVID-19 vaccination to priority groups at risk.
The first shot was given at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) at 11 a.m. soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the vaccination drive. SKIMS is the largest hospital in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and among 20 session sites planned in the Kashmir Division.
SKIMS Director and Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon Dr A G Ahangar, 64, led from the front and took the first dose of the vaccine.
Special flights and helicopters transported boxes of the vaccine to the blocks and districts that had become inaccessible by road because of heavy snowfall. Despite the freezing cold, health teams ensured that vaccination drive took place in almost all blocks except a handful where snowfall made both human and vehicular movement virtually impossible on Saturday.
“Special occasions need special commitment and health teams are showcasing the will and commitment to fight the pandemic in these difficult and cold winter conditions. Though the whole country is putting its best foot forward in the fight against the pandemic, health workers in the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir, along with government support, are going an extra mile to make this vaccination drive successful,” said Dr Ahangar. Along with him, a staff nurse and several senior surgeons and clinicians at the hospital got vaccinated.
The vaccination drive began in both Karan and Machil blocks in the Kupwara district blocks on Sunday, but whole Kashmir valley remained inundated with snow even after the weekend. The Gurez block of Bandipora district continued to be cut off on Monday, but COVID-19 vaccines were delivered by air. The block is yet to plan a vaccination drive.
Government efforts are being supported by the World Health Organization National Public Health Surveillance Project unit in Srinagar, which is providing monitoring support at the vaccination site.
