Bandipora village first to vaccinate all adults

Srinagar, June 8

A remote hamlet in Bandipora district has become the first village in India to vaccinate all of its adult population against Covid, officials said on Tuesday.

The credit goes to the healthcare workers whose strenuous efforts shot Weyan hamlet, with an adult population of 362, to national fame, they said. “The village is located only 28 km away from Bandipora district headquarters, but a distance of 18 km has to be covered by foot as there is no motorable road,” a health official said.

All above 45 inoculated in 20 villages

Bandipora has achieved 100% vaccination of eligible persons in 45-plus age group in 20 villages while the overall percentage of vaccinated people in the targeted age group is 85%

DC Owais Ahmad said one lakh doses were administered

He said the task of vaccinating all the residents was even more difficult as the village has nomadic families who go to higher reaches for grazing their livestock.

“There is no internet access in the village. So, it was not possible for the residents to get appointment for vaccination like the way people in urban areas do,” Bashir Ahmed Khan, Chief Medical Officer, Bandipora, said.

Despite initial vaccine hesitancy, J&K has achieved 70% vaccination in the 45+ age group, almost double the national average, the official said.

Commenting on the achievement, Yatish Yadav, media adviser to J&K government, said the UT was raising the bar in the Covid vaccination drive. — PTI