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J&K Bank kicks off H1N1 Influenza vaccination drive for staff

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 1/31/2016 11:17:16 AM

SRINAGAR, Jan 30: Combating H1N1 Influenza/ swine flu threat, J&K Bank today kicked off a major vaccination drive to immunise its staff against the deadly H1N1 virus.
The drive started with the vaccination of Bank’s Chairman and CEO Mushtaq Ahmad here at the bank’s Corporate Headquarters along with Executive President Abdul Rauf Bhat.
For this massive vaccination drive that will cover 11000 staff members of the bank across India, the bank has entered into a tie-up with leading multi national pharma company Abbot which manufactures one of the best H1N1 influennza vaccines.
The drive has an immediate context in the state, for the J&K Government sounded swine flu alert in Kashmir last year when some persons died due to H1N1 virus in the state and numerous others tested positive.
Commenting on the drive, Executive President Abdul Rauf Said, “In view of the severity of this viral disease and its implication on staff-public and intra-staff interaction, we decided to go for the immunization of the entire staff. This is one of the ways of making staff- public relation healthier.”
“We have extended the facility to the family members of the staff as well but against a nominal cost, while as the staff shall be provided the vaccine free of cost and the cost shall be borne by the bank”, he added.
Notably, swine flu (H1N1 influenza) is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by H1N1 virus (mostly during cold weather) and transmits from person to person through coughing or sneezing.
Medical experts are of the view that for precautionary measures Influenza vaccine is recommended for all people over 6 months of age, and is an economical way of protecting oneself from deadly infection.