The Karnataka government will, if necessary, restart COVID-19 vaccination that had come to a standstill in the last eight months. Announcing this after a meeting on December 21 with members of the COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and officials, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said although the situation in Karnataka is not alarming as of now, it is the responsibility of all citizens to follow precautions. “Three persons have died in Bengaluru since December 15, and COVID was not the only cause of death. They had multiple comorbidities, and COVID was an incidental finding,” he said.
“I have given strict instructions to officials to ensure that the lapses that occurred in the management of COVID during the previous government’s regime should not be repeated. Oxygen and ventilator beds should be made available based on requirement. The Health and Medical Education departments should work in coordination to ensure that none of these are lacking,” he said.
Asserting that Karnataka will not wait for Central supplies of vaccine, the Chief Minister said, “If necessary, we will restart immunisation of all those who are still unvaccinated so that they are protected from severe disease. Vaccination may not prevent infection, but it will protect the person from getting a severe form of the disease. If necessary, Karnataka will procure vaccine stocks on its own without waiting for Central supplies.”
