Bommai makes announcement at videocon in which Karnataka IAS officer bats for Covid vaccine booster dose
At videocon with CM, Mysuru DC Dr Gautham Bagadi stresses the need to enhance protection of frontline and healthcare staff with a booster dose
BENGALURU:
A growing national debate over the need for a booster dose has found its echo in Karnataka with a doctor-turned-IAS officer, Dr Gautham Bagadi demanding a booster dose of a Covid-19 vaccine especially for frontline and healthcare staff.
The 2009 Karnataka batch officer, currently posted as Mysuru district Deputy Commissioner, voiced his views unreservedly during a videocon review with officials of the Covid-19 situation. The virtual meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday evening at the CM’s home office.
In fact, after Bagadi’s made his suggestion, the CM asked him whether he was a doctor by profession. “You are a doctor, Gautham,” Bommai quizzed, to which the IAS officer replied in the affirmative. Bommai noted that the Mysuru DC was expressing his views on a booster dose both as an official and as a doctor.
Eyes on Centre
Concluding the videocon, the CM said Karnataka will wait till December 1 and if there is no announcement from the Union government, the state government will take a call on a booster dose. “We will wait till December 1. If ICMR approves and it is cleared by the authorities, we will take a call on on allowing a booster dose, ” Bommai said.
Reacting to the IAS officer’s views, Dr Sudarshan, a member of the state’s Covid expert committee, said a decision on a booster shot was awaited from the Centre. “Proposals on a booster dose have already been made, and a call has to come from the Union government,” he said.
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During the review, Dr Bagadi pointed out that frontline and health workers were vaccinated in February-March 2021 and “now, we are nearly at the end of the year and hence it is necessary to give a booster dose to these workers.”
UK example cited
He continued, “The United Kingdom has already given a booster dose and we are in December. Though in Mysuru very mild Covid-19 cases have been reported, if a booster dose is given to frontline and health workers, it will enhance the antibodies.”
Following a recent cluster of 69 positive cases reported in Mysuru, around 1,200 primary contacts were tested. All the positive cases had come from Kerala, Dr Bagadi said.
Vigil on Kerala-Mysuru route
He noted that the only access to Mysuru from Kerala is the Kabini bridge, where there is strict vigilance. “We have (so far) stopped entry of 160 vehicles whose passengers did not have an RT-PCR negative report. The other mode of entry is by boat via the Kabini river, which too is being closely monitored,” Dr Bagadi said.
