Kannada TV channels spin yarn about Siddaramaiah getting fever after taking 3rd (precautionary) vaccine dose
Karnataka official clarifies that 3rd dose for seniors begins on Monday (Jan 10) and no one can be jabbed before that
Former Karnataka CM’s spokesman clarifies that Siddaramaiah felt tired and left Congress’s Mekedatu padayatra to recuperate in Bengaluru
BENGALURU:
On Sunday, several Kannada news channels literally jumped the gun by airing a story claiming that former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had taken a precautionary dose (third dose) of a Covid vaccine 2 days ago, due to which he felt tired and had a high fever. The channels went on to say that this forced the senior Congress leader to return to Bengaluru, leaving the party’s ‘padayatra’ for the Mekedatu drinking water project.
The channels’ claim was astonishing, to say the least, considering that in line with the Centre’s recent announcement, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s government is scheduled to kickstart the Covid-19 precautionary (third) vaccination for senior citizens above 60 years (with comorbidities) from Monday, January 10.
On Sunday, Karnataka Congress leaders and workers helmed by KPCC president DK Shivkumar began a 10-day ‘padayatra’ from the Mekedatu project site, which will end on January 19 in Bengaluru.
What actually happened
Soon after the ‘padayatra’ began, the former Chief Minister reportedly felt tired, and sources also claimed that he felt feverish, forcing him to leave the ‘padayatra’ and rush back to Bengaluru for treatment.
Strangely, even as there was no communication from Siddaramaiah’s office on his health status, most of the Kannada TV channels spun their own ‘theory’ that the former Chief Minister developed a high fever after taking the precautionary dose two days ago.
The fact is that the Centre’s announced drive for a precautionary (third) dose of the Covid vaccine for frontline workers and senior citizens (with ailments) will officially start from Monday, January 10.
Reacting to the TV channels’ reports, an official from the Karnataka Health department said that it was out of the question for any senior citizen above 60 years, including any politician, to have received the precautionary dose before the drive is officially launched.
‘Ex-CM is okay now’
Meanwhile, speaking to TheBengaluruLive, Siddaramaiah’s media advisor Prabhakar clarified that the senior Congress leader felt tired and returned to Bengaluru to recuperate. “He is now fit and fine, and feeling much better. On Monday, he will join the padayatra,” Prabhakar added.
Prabhakar categorically denied the claims of the Kannada news channels that the former Chief Minister had taken a precautionary dose two days ago. “The Congress leader was planning to take a dose once the vaccination drive begins on Monday, but his vaccination date is yet to be finalized,” he added.
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