Srinagar, Jan 12: Jammu and Kashmir is set to receive the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday with officials saying that the first dose will be given to health care workers.

“On Wednesday, 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 from the last two days, however, due to some issues, vaccines didn’t reach on Monday and Tuesday but will be available by tomorrow.

“Vaccines will reach by air in cold storage chains,” he said.

Qazi said that they have arranged choppers to take vaccines to far off places in J&K like Gurez, Tanghdar Karnah and by Friday they will all ready to start the vaccination process along with the entire country on Saturday.

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-AstraZeneca & Serum Institute of India vaccine Covishield for emergency use. (KNO)