Karnataka to buy 2 crore Covid vaccines from abroad
DyCM Narayan says state will also procure 1 crore Covaxin and 2 crore Covishield doses
Other Karnataka procurements will include 1 lakh oximeters, 25 lakh Ivermectin tablets, 35 lakh RT-PCR test kits
BENGALURU:
In order to meet the increased demand for vaccines, especially since vaccination of the 18-44 years age group is now underway, Karnataka will procure 2 crore Covid vaccines through a global tender, Deputy Chief Minister and state Covid task force head Dr CN Ashwath Narayan said on Tuesday.
In addition, orders have been placed with the Indian manufacturers for 3 crore vaccines, which include 1 crore doses of Covaxin and 2 crore of Covishield, he said.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the DyCM and attended by Jawaid Akhtar, ASC, Department of Health, Anjum Parvez, In-Charge, Drugs Procurement, Lata Kumari, MD, State Medical Supplies Corporation, and Om Prakash Patil, Director, Department of Health.
7-day time for tender
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Narayan said, “Till now, we had depended on vaccines supplied by the Central government and it was not procured from the open market by floating a tender. Now, we will float the tender and complete the process within 7 days.”
The authorities have also been instructed to procure 1 lakh pulse oximeters and these will be distributed to all the districts and taluks. It will be the responsibility of the DHOs and THOs to collect the pulse oximeters after the infected user gets cured. Later, they will be used for creating a pulse oximeter bank, the DyCM said.
Besides, 10 lakh tablets of Ivermectin, meant to treat Covid patients, have been procured and the supplies will start by May 14. Further, 25 lakh more Ivermectin tablets will be procured for distribution to hospitals across the state. 35 lakh zinc tablets and 1 crore colchicine tablets will be procured and made available in all district hospitals, taluk hospitals, PHCs and community health centres, Narayan said.
Currently, 10.50 lakh RAT kits are in stock and this will be enough for 7 days. 50,000 RAT kits are being supplied every day. In addition, 37 lakh RT-PCR kits will be procured, he said.
Triaging to be mandatory
The DyCM said triaging would be made mandatory to avoid unnecessary occupancy of beds. He requested urbanites not to rush to rural areas to get vaccinated.
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