Leh/ Kargil, Jan 28 (KNO): The health department officials in Ladakh Thursday said that around 800 medical officials including doctors, paramedics, and Anganwadi workers have been vaccinated in the first phase of the vaccination drive.
The government of India gave a nod to the vaccine developed by Indian company Bharat Biotech earlier this month and launched the world's largest COVID-19 vaccination drive in a phased manner prioritizing health workers across the nation to get the first jab.
Top health department officials in the newly carved Union Territory of Ladakh told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that in the two districts of Ladakh, around 500 health workers have been vaccinated in Leh alone while over 300 in Kargil.
In Kargil, the health official said that so far five sessions have been successfully conducted in which over 300 medical workers have been vaccinated.
He said that the first vaccine shot was given to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Kargil, Dr Munawar Hussain after which all the Head of the Departments (HOD's) and other top officials were vaccinated.
The official said that so far there are no issues in executing the vaccination drive in the remote areas since the health workers are to be vaccinated in the first phase.
"In the entire Kargil district, eight sessions have been completed for health care workers and the Anganwadi workers," the health official said.
"The vaccination is being done at the District Hospital, Community Health Centers (CHC's) and Primary Health Center's (PHC's)," he said.
"There are a total of 2224 health care workers and with 4 days in a week for a vaccination with a cap of 100 vaccination in a day, it'll take some more time to complete eight sessions," he said.
The officials said that no swabs for new UK strain have been collected from Kargil district so far.
In Leh, a senior health official requesting anonymity told KNO that the first UK variant strain case has been treated and discharged from the hospital.
"The first variant case of Leh with travel history of Germany has been discharged after testing negative twice and the two of his contacts quarantined have also been discharged after negative swab results," the health official said.
He said that nearly 500 health care workers have been vaccinated in Leh district to date.
Earlier in the Republic Day address, RK Mathur, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh said that the recovery rate of COVID-19 cases has touched 98 per cent—(KNO)