Day 1: Karnataka logs 62% vaccine coverage

BENGALURU: Karnataka recorded 62% Covid vaccination coverage of the registered healthcare workers on Day 1. Of the 21,658 persons scheduled to get the vaccine, 13,408 got the jab on Saturday.
Terming this a major success, health minister K Sudhakar said the state aims to cover 7.4 lakh persons, including healthcare and frontline workers, in the first phase.All 13,408 persons came voluntarily for the vaccine which boosts confidence among others, he added.
“There have been no reports of major adverse effects reported among those who got vaccinated (both Covidsheild and Covaxin). This is a positive development,” he added.
The highest turnout was in Kodagu (84%), followed by 77% in Uttara Kannada. The least is in Dakshina Kannada (37%). “We need to assess why the numbers are low in Dakshina Kannada, a district known for high literacy rate. The vaccine is absolutely safe and I urge everyone to come forward to take it,” he said.
In Bengaluru, the highest turnout was at St John’s Hhospital (81%). The least was in Mallasandra primary health centre (28%). The coverage in BBMP limits was 73%. Till about 2pm, the coverage was only 21.5% across the state but it picked up in the afternoon. On Saturday morning, at most centres, the vaccination began only around noon after the national launch. “From Monday, the drive will be from 9am to 5pm. On Sunday, some private hospitals will conduct the program and from Monday, the drive will resume in government-run sites,” Sudhakar said. Though Karnataka had identified 243 vaccination session sites for the launch, the number will gradually be increased, he said. In less than 10 persons, some soreness at the injection point was noticed. At PMSSY hospital, four persons had seen mild adverse effects. “Three complained of dizziness and one had symptoms of vomiting. Their blood pressure was normal. They all got better soon. This could also be due to anxiety,” said Dr Sandhya K, anaesthetist, who was heading the team at the hospital’s observation room.