Karnataka: Health department to launch Covid-19 booster dose drive

HUBBALLI: The health department in Dharwad district is all set to launch a 75-day drive to administer a precautionary dose of the Covid-19 vaccine free of cost to those in the 18 to 59 age group. The slow but sure rise in the number of Covid-19 cases being reported in the district has prompted the department to take steps to take steps to check the spread of the infection. The health department is working in tandem with other government agencies to persuade people, those of whom are yet to receive their second dose of the vaccine, besides calling on elderly residents, who have been unable to make the trip to hospitals to get the booster dose.
In Dharwad district, all those aged above 18 have been fully vaccinated, but the drive to administer booster dose to those aged above 60 has met with lukewarm response. Consequently, the district administration has taken it upon itself to ensure that the booster dose is administered to all those eligible to receive it before the deadline set by the government elapses.
Dharwad district nodal officer Dr SM Honakeri told TOI, “Around 30% of the elderly citizens in the district have been administered the booster dose, while nearly 60% of the healthcare personnel and other Covid frontline warriors have received the precautionary shot. We have also met the 100% target in administering the first dose to children in the 12 to 14 age group, but the administering of the second dose is stuck at 80%. In the 15-17 age group, 87% of those identified have received the first dose, while 78% have been administered the second dose as well.”
He said that the district had enough Covaxin medicine to administer 43,620 doses, while there was enough to administer 7,400 doses of Covishield vaccine. “We will use the available stock to administer the precautionary dose to those aged 18 and above,” Dr Honakeri said.
Dharwad district health officer (DHO) Dr BC Karigowder said that they were awaiting instructions from the government to launch the 75-day drive. “We have made all the arrangements to start the campaign at the 53 primary health centres, the district civil hospital, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences and taluk hospitals. We will requisition more vaccine within a couple of days. Our health department staff have been trained for the drive,” said Dr Karigowder, adding that those who were administered the second dose of any vaccine six months ago was eligible to receive the booster dose.