First village in India to achieve 100% vaccination of its adult population

Jammu and Kashmir has made a name for itself in country's immunisation drive by achieving vaccination targets at the fastest pace possible under the 'J&K model', which is a 10-point strategy to vaccinate entire eligible population.

A small village in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir is now the first remote village in India to be able to immunise 100 per cent of its adult population, officials said on Tuesday.

The officials gave the credit to hard-working healthcare workers whose efforts could achieve the target of vaccinating 362 people across the hamlet despite vaccine hesitancy.


Jammu and Kashmir has also achieved 70 per cent vaccination in the 45+ age group, almost double the national average.

"The village is located only 28 kilometres away from Bandipora district headquarters, but a distance of 18 kilometres has to be covered by foot as there is no motorable road,” an official of the health department told PTI.

He said the task of vaccinating all the residents was even more difficult as the village consists of nomadic families who go to higher reaches for grazing their livestock.

"There is no internet access in the village. So it was not possible for the residents to get appointments for vaccination like the way people in urban areas do," Bashir Ahmed Khan, Chief Medical Officer, Bandipora said while explaining the difficulty faced by the healthcare workers.

Commenting on the achievement, Yatish Yadav, media advisor to Jammu and Kashmir government, said the Union territory was raising the bar in the Covid vaccination drive.

"#JammuAndKashmirModel. And we thought up to now that Everest was the highest and toughest peak of Himalayas. But, some journey brings a new light, a new life. Team J&K raising the bar on vaccination drive," he tweeted.