Jammu, Jan 13 (IANS): Jammu & Kashmir on Wednesday received the first batch of the Covid vaccine - Covishield - manufactured by Pune's Serum Institute of India.

Officials said as many as 1,46,500 doses of Covishield vaccine have been received out of which 79,000 are for Kashmir division and 67,500 for Jammu division.

The vaccine is being stored at the divisional cold chain stores in both Jammu and Kashmir divisions from where it will be distributed to all the districts maintaining the cold chain at all levels.

Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Samir Mattoo and J&K Immunisation Officer Dr Qazi Haroon received the vaccine at Divisional Vaccine store at Barzulla, Srinagar in Kashmir while as Dr Renu Sharma, Director Health Services Jammu/Director Family Welfare, J&K, received the vaccine at Divisional vaccine store, DHS Jammu.

Speaking on the occasion, Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education said that the vaccine will be sent to all the districts and immunisation points across J&K.

He said that the vaccines will be ferried to far-flung areas which are cut off due to heavy snowfall, with the help of choppers, so that all the healthcare workers are vaccinated even in the most difficult and inaccessible areas of J&K.

The vaccination drive will start from January 16 across the Union territory.