This comes a day after the administration said the third phase of the inoculation drive will not begin in the union territory from May 1.
The COVID-19 vaccination drive kickstarted in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar on Saturday at Shri Maharaj Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital for the people between age group of 18-45 years. All eligible citizens have been asked to get themselves registered as walk-ins are not allowed yet.
This comes a day after the administration said the third phase of the inoculation drive will not begin in the union territory from May 1 as it was awaiting vaccine supply.
"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.
Ajaz Asad, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, while talking to the media on the sidelines of the launching of the drive, said that a total of ten designated centers have been set up by the district administration where the people above the age of 18-45 will be vaccinated.
The designated centers include sub centre Natipora, UPHC Nishat, SMHS hospital, SKIMS Soura, G B Pant hospital, Boys Secondary School NIT, Miranda School Chinkral Mohalla, Community hall, health centre Miskeen Bagh and Government higher Secondary School Batamaloo.
Authorities will be increasing the number of designated centres soon. Authorities have requested people to get themselves registered on Co-Win portal, as nobody will be vaccinated until and unless they get registered.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar said that there is no shortage of vaccine and the number of people getting vaccinated is higher in Srinagar than other districts of the Union Territory. "The Covishield has arrived in ample quantity and there is no shortage," he said.
On Friday, Jammu and Kashmir recorded its biggest single-day jump of 3,532 COVID-19 cases and 30 fatalities that pushed its tally to 1,76,079 and death toll to 2,283, according to officials.
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