Bengaluru, Nov. 27: Amid growing concerns over the spread of a new strain of Covid virus – Omicron in various parts of the world, Karnataka health minister, Dr K. Sudhakar on Saturday said that the state government plans to step-up its anti-Covid vaccine drive across the state.
After attending the key Covid-review meeting that was convened by with Chief Minister, Basavaraj Bommai in the state here, Dr Sudhkar told reporters that
Karnataka has achieved nearly 90 per cent in administering the first dose of anti-Covid vaccination against the Country’s coverage of the same at 80 per cent.
“The state has so far administered a second dose to 57 per cent of those who have received the first dose against the nation’s coverage of 42 per cent. Although we are much ahead of the national average in administering both doses, it is not sufficient. We need to step up our vaccination drive,” the minister said.
Dr Sudhakar added that the state has so far managed the pandemic situation efficiently and has performed well on many parameters of health indicators.
According to the latest health bulletin released on Saturday evening by the state government, the state has administered 4.43 crore first dose since January 16, 2021 to till date and it has inoculated 2.86 crore second doses till Saturday afternoon and as per this data 1.57 crore are yet to get second dose of vaccination across the state.
Appealing to those who haven’t got their second dose of vaccination, the minister said, “ I request all those who are yet to take the second dose to get it on a priority basis as there is no shortage of vaccinations as such in the state.”
Purchase of medicines, funds released:
Commenting on the issue of medicines procurement, the Minister said a meeting will be scheduled to procure medicines. “Karnataka has collectively transferred Rs 38 crore to all District Hearth officers to enable them to procure medicines. There has been a delay in purchasing general medicines this year due to the pandemic,” he reasoned.
He added that tenders could not be called in time as several issues were pending before the Court and funds were released to buy medicines locally and medicines will be available at all Taluk and District hospitals in 3-4 days.
