Karnataka gears to vaccinate 43 lakh children in 15-18 age group
Thrust will also be on vaccinating 45 lakh people who have missed due date for second dose: Karnataka Health Minister
BENGALURU:
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing vaccination for children in the age group of 15-18 years from January 3, the Karnataka government is all set to begin the vaccination process for 43 lakh children in that age group in the state.
Karnataka’s Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar made the announcement after a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai which took a decision to impose night curfew in the state from 10 pm to 5 am, from December 28 till January 7.
Also Read: COVID-19: Night curfew in Karnataka for 10 days from December 28
Sudhakar said, “Karnataka has achieved 97 per cent Covid first dose vaccinations and 75 per cent of the second. The Chief Minister has directed that the emphasis should now be on achieving 100 per cent of the first dose at the earliest.”
He added, “Similarly, for the second dose, we will ensure that those districts that are lagging behind will have special measures to ensure ramping up of vaccination. There are about 45 lakh people in the state whose due dates for the second dose have passed, and the stress, emphasis and thrust will be on ensuring that they come forward and fully vaccinate themselves.”
Geared for new phase
Welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement on vaccination for children between the ages of 15 and 18 years, the Health Minister said this age group will get the first dose from January 3, and that the state has estimated about 43 lakh children in this category.
”The Chief Minister will launch this statewide vaccination drive, while Ministers and legislators will launch it in their respective districts and constituencies…we would like to vaccinate (this age group) at the earliest,” he said.
Similarly, as announced by the PM, health care workers, front line workers, and those above 60 years with comorbidities will get the third dose of the vaccine, also called a booster or precautionary dose, starting from January 10. ”We will take this seriously and would like to complete the third dose in record time,” the Minister said.
Health infra boosted
On the preparedness of the Health Department for any eventualities, Sudhakar said 3,191 ICU beds would be added to the existing 4,000 beds. ”In all, we will have more than 7,051 ICU beds. Similarly, oxygenated beds will also be added to the current 30,000 such beds,” the Minister said.
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: ಕೋವಿಡ್-19: ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಡಿಸೆಂಬರ್ 28 ರಿಂದ 10 ದಿನಗಳವರೆಗೆ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಕರ್ಫ್ಯೂ
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: 10 ದಿನ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಕರ್ಫ್ಯೂ, ನಿರ್ಬಂಧಗಳ ಸಡಿಲಿಕೆ ಇಲ್ಲ: ಸಿಎಂ ಬಸವರಾಜ ಬೊಮ್ಮಾಯಿ
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