BENGALURU:
The first consignment of Covishield vaccines reached Bengaluru on Tuesday, four days ahead of the launch of a nationwide inoculation drive against the coronavirus. A SpiceJet flight carrying 6,47,500 doses of the vaccine for Bengaluru landed at Kempegowda International Airport at noon. Belagavi will receive the next consignment on Wednesday.
Karnataka will get 7.95 lakh vials of Covishield in the first phase, and these will be stored in the government storage facility near Anand Rao Circle, according to Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar.
‘Cheapest vaccine’
Addressing the media on Tuesday, Sudhakar said, “The Covishield vaccine has already been approved by the DCGI (Drugs Controller-General of India). The Union government has purchased 1.1 crore doses of the vaccine at a cost of Rs 210 per dose. This is the cheapest vaccine in the world. Serum Institute of India, Pune is supplying the vaccines at a cost of Rs 231 crore. Karnataka will get 7.95 lakh vials of Covishield in the first phase.”
Sarve Santu Nirayama
— Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) January 12, 2021
The first consignment of 7.95 lakh vials of Vaccine has been dispatched from Serum Institute, Pune & will arrive in Bengaluru today at around 11:30 AM.
ಸರ್ವೇ ಸಂತು ನಿರಾಮಯಾ
ಪುಣೆಯಿಂದ ಹೊರಟಿರುವ ಮೊದಲ ಕಂತಿನ 7.95 ಲಕ್ಷ ಲಸಿಕೆ ಸಂಗ್ರಹ ಇಂದು 11:30ಕ್ಕೆ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ತಲುಪಲಿದೆ. pic.twitter.com/TarWqiy8gw
Each dose of the vaccine is 0.5 ml and each vial contains 10 doses. The second dose should be given 28 days after the first dose. The vaccine will generate an immune response in the body and is safe, said Dr.Sudhakar
Protocols in place
“‘Not for sale’ is being written over the vials to avoid misuse. Health warriors will get the vaccine on priority. All guidelines will be followed while giving the vaccine. Every person who is vaccinated will be kept under observation for 30 minutes after vaccination,” Dr Sudhakar said.
