Logistics in place for storage, distribution of Covid vaccine

Bengaluru: The State government is fully prepared for vaccine collection, storage and distribution, said Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K.Sudhakar on Sunday.

Sudhakar said he would be the first person in the State to be administered the vaccine during phase-I planned for health workers, if the central government allowed public representatives also to be covered.

"The first batch to take the Covaxin will be the healthcare workers, but if the Government of India allows us to take, I will be the first to get it as a health minister," Sudhakar told reporters.

Stressing that volunteering for the vaccine was necessary to instill confidence among the people, he said, "See, we have to imbibe, infuse confidence in the public. So, why not (I take it)?"

Speaking to the media after inspecting the State Vaccine Store on Sunday, Mr Sudhakar said, "PM Narendra Modi will be interacting with the Chief Ministers of all the States through video conference on Monday. The PM has already announced that the vaccination drive will begin on January 16. Health warriors will get three crore doses. We have two vaccine storages each in Bengaluru and Belagavi. Apart from this we have five regional storage centres at Chitradurga, Kalburgi, Dakshina Kannada, Mysuru and Bagalkot. We also have a Corporation storage facility in every district, BBMP has 50 blocks and totally we have 2,767 cold chain points. So all these will be utilized to distribute vaccines".

According to the reports from the health department, vaccines will be sent to regional storage centres through 900 vaccine carriers. It will be further distributed to district centres from there. "We have two walk-in coolers in Bengaluru where we can store 45 lakh dosages in each cooler. The Centre is also providing one walk-in freezer. Twenty-four lakh syringes have arrived and we are getting 13.90 lakh doses of vaccines in the first phase. Karnataka is fully prepared to distribute the vaccine" Sudhakar added.

It is expected to take two months to complete the vaccination drive. Experts' opinion will be sought to decide whether everyone should be vaccinated or not. If at all required elderly and vulnerable persons will be given vaccines.

To a question on the challenges faced during the dry runs, Sudhakar said he noticed at certain places digital and technical lacunae, where the OTPs did not reach to the right person from the nodal officer. "Now, it has been rectified," he added.

Regarding those who returned to the state from the United Kingdom recently, the minister said a system for effective management of data of passengers arriving at airports has been put in place.

He added that on Sunday 289 passengers arrived here from the UK and four among them have been found positive for coronavirus.

"Infected persons will be traced and admitted to hospital," he added.