BENGALURU: In the past seven days, 1.7 lakh healthcare professionals in
Karnataka have been vaccinated against the SARS-CoV2 virus, 56% of coverage vaccinators had planned to complete.
The state had set a target of vaccinating 3,18,331 health workers in the timeframe, but managed to inoculate only 1,77,022. Yet, Karnataka continues to top states in Covid vaccination coverage.
So far, the state has reported nine serious adverse effects following vaccinations (AEFI), including one on Friday. “No deaths were reported after vaccination on Friday. Even admission to hospital post vaccination is reported as serious AEFI,” said Pankaj Kumar Pandey, commissioner, health and family welfare department.
A 35-year-old Davanagere woman was hospitalised, but officials said it was a case of anxiety post vaccination.
On Friday, the state vaccinated 42,425 healthcare workers — 52% coverage of the 81,519 people it had planned to inoculate. Vaccinations were conducted in all the planned 1,100 sessions. Chitradurga achieved the highest coverage of 75%, followed by Bidar and Mandya.
In Bengaluru Urban district (including BBMP areas), only 7,771 (45%) of the 17,183 people who were registered to take the vaccine were administered the first dose.
More Covaxin vialsKarnataka is set to receive another 1,46,240 doses of Covaxin, health minister K Sudhakar said on Friday.
The state had earlier received 20,000 doses of the indigenous Covid-19 vaccine. Although dispatch was scheduled for Friday, it is likely to arrive on Saturday, said health and family welfare department authorities.
As on Friday afternoon, at which point 1.4 lakh healthcare workers were inoculated, Covishied was administered to 1,36,882 beneficiaries, while 1,774 received Covaxin.
“Some are hesitating to take the vaccine due to rumours. The vaccine will keep Coivid-19 away. We have a big challenge of vaccinating 1.5 crore to 2 crore people in the state,” said Sudhakar.
A total 8,47,908 lakh healthcare workers had registered for the vaccine in the first phase in Karnataka.