Karnataka: 16 lakh people, including healthcare workers, to get Covid shots in initial phase

More than 16 lakh people in Karnataka, including healthcare workers and frontline staff, will get the Covid-19 vaccine in the first phase, state Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said Monday.

“The two vaccines, Covaxin and Covishield, developed by Indian companies, will be given free of cost. The entire cost will be borne by the Centre,” he said.

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a video-conference with CMs of all states, in which Sudhakar was also present along with Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa

“The vaccine will be administered in two doses. After the first dose, another dose will be administered after 28 days. So immunity will be developed after 45 days. One has to be careful for 45 days,” Dr. Sudhakar explained.

“There is no need to panic about the safety of vaccines. They have undergone clinical trials and are safe. The state is fully prepared to begin the vaccination drive, while the Centre will also supply additional walk-in freezers. Vaccination will begin from 16 January,” he added.

The second phase vaccine will be administered to people aged above 50 years and other vulnerable groups, according to the minister.

Meanwhile, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) administrator Gaurav Gupta on Monday inspected Dasappa hospital, which is one of the BBMP’s vaccine storage centres, in the City.

After inspection, Gupta said 1.71 lakh health workers have been identified to get the vaccine in the first phase. While inspecting, he was apprised of how the vaccine will be stored, procured and dispersed to all the centres. He was informed by the officials that each ice line refrigerator can store 45,000 vaccine vials. In Dasappa hospital facility, nine ice line refrigerators have been set up, and 141 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) have been converted to cold chain points, where the vaccine will be administered. In all 141 PHCs too, ice line refrigerators have been set up, the BBMP statement said.

Gupta was informed that the vials will be transferred from the storage points to the PHCs in cold store boxes in designated vehicles. This will ensure that they are kept untouched in particular set temperatures till they are administered to healthcare workers.