HASSAN: A month after taking their second vaccine dose, nine health staffers in Hassan have tested positive for Covid-19. Two of them, a nurse and a programme coordinator, have contracted the infection for the second time in five months.
Separately, four health workers, who have taken one jab, have been diagnosed with Covid-19.
Four of the 13 have been hospitalised. The rest are in home quarantine. “Six staffers have comorbidities. All are showing mild symptoms. Other employees in our office have tested negative,” said district health officer Dr KM Sathish.
Kantharaju, who is the district’s vaccination nodal officer, said that the first dose of
Covaxin was administered to health staff in the first week of February and the second one a month later. Antibodies to coronavirus are expected to develop a fortnight after the second dose.
“The Indian Council of Medical Research has never said that one won’t be infected after the release of antibodies. The advantage (of vaccination) is that the infection won’t be severe or fatal,” Kantharaju said.
“Last year, 22 staff members tested positive. Testing every public officer is an effective way to cut the transmission chain.”
About 300 people work in the Hassan health office. “We will study the cases of reinfection. The treatment for them remains the same, but their samples will be sent to the regional centre to ascertain if the virus variant is new. We expect new guidelines from the government soon,” said
Krishnamurthy, the superintendent of the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences.
Meanwhile, 72,630 people aged over 60 have taken their first vaccine dose and 16 people two in Hassan. More than 8,720 people aged between 45 and 59 and with comorbidities have the first jab.