With the COVID19 vaccination in its second phase, people over 60 years of age and those with pre-existing diseases and over 45 years old can safeguard themselves against the SARS-CV2 infection with a vaccine shot, a provision that experts strongly recommend taking up.
Over 13 lakh people in J&K are expected to get the vaccine, a senior official said.
In order to get vaccinated, one needs to install a mobile application COWIN 2.0 available on Cowin website and many other government sites.
Dr Saleem ur Rehman, director general, Health, Family Welfare and Immunization said that once the registration has been completed, the individual will get a message directing to the nearest vaccination site and the date for getting the shot.
“It is a very simple process and people do not need to queue up anywhere for getting themselves listed for the vaccine,” he said.
He said the online registration is especially beneficial for elderly and sick as it eases the process.
On the day of vaccination, the beneficiary needs to carry an identity proof – Aadhar Card or PAN card for verification of age and other credentials.
In case of people over 45 years and with co-morbidities, a Performa filled in to detail the nature of the ailment and signed by a registered medical practitioner is required. Dr Rehman said the form can be downloaded from Cowin 2.0 and a hard copy of it filled in by the institute from where the person is getting treatment. The form requires the certification from a doctor whether the person seeking vaccination has suffered a serious heart ailment, kidney disease, liver disease, malignancy, stroke, respiratory disease, immunodeficiency disease among others.
People with disabilities, physical and intellectual, are also eligible to get vaccinated in this phase if they are 45 years and above.
However, for people who do not have a mobile phone, a provision for offline registration is also available, Dr Rehman said. The nearest vaccination site can register the person and then give date for vaccination, he said.
In the second phase, J&K is planning to vaccinate over 13 lakh people, including those with co-morbidities. Dr Rehman said a regular supply-chain of vaccines had been established and the government was expecting a replenishment of stocks as per the requirements. “We are seeing a good response to this drive among masses,” he said.
The doctors who have been on the frontline in COVID19 pandemic have urged people to get vaccinated. Prof Parvaiz A Koul, head department of internal and pulmonary medicine said the vaccination drive was a “great initiative”. “We need to safeguard as many lives as we can with a safe, effective and well carried out drive,” he said.
He impressed upon the need to vaccinate the people with existing medical conditions. “Their ailments can make SARS-CoV2 lethal for them at times,” he said.
Dr Naveed Nazir Shah, head department of pulmonary medicine at GMC Srinagar said the vaccine is absolutely safe and prevents people from getting sick with SARS-CoV2.
He said elderly population was at a high risk of the infection and it has been seen that the majority of the people who succumbed to it were aged 60 years and above.