COVID-19: Vaccination equally important for young population, says Dr Gowhar Nabi

PULWAMA — In view of the surging spread of COVID-19, the role vaccination is equally important for young population, according to Dr Gowhar Nabi, who is the Nodal Officer at District Hospital Pulwama.

During an interaction with the senior citizens in Rahmoo village of Pulwama district, the doctor appealed people, especially the residents of Pulwama district, to follow the COVID-19 SOPs religiously.

Dr Gowhar informed that the present wave is six times more infectious and causes pneumonia in most of the serious cases. He also stated that the vaccination for the infectious disease is as safe as any other vaccine prescribed by the doctors.

Asking people to register for COVID-19 vaccination, the doctor said that not only old-aged people but young people need to undergo vaccination, given the time youngsters spend outside their homes even during the lockdown.

Pertinently, the COVID-19 vaccination drive kickstarted in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday for the people between age group of 18-45 years. All eligible citizens have been asked to get themselves registered.

“Jammu and Kashmir will roll out the vaccination of the 18-45 age group against COVID-19 from May 1 in a phased manner beginning with Jammu and Srinagar,” the Department of Information and Public Relations had said on Twitter on Saturday.

“COVAXIN will be administered to this age group free of cost. It will be by prior registration and prior appointment only. Please do not crowd the vaccination centres without an appointment,” it said.

Authorities have requested people to get themselves registered on Co-Win portal, as nobody will be vaccinated until and unless they get registered.

On Thursday, Jammu and Kashmir reported 4926 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest so far since the pandemic started, even as 52 more persons succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, according to Health Department data.