CM flags off vaccination drive Jabs for 22,500 kids in Bengaluru

Over six lakh children in the state, between the ages of 15 and 18 will be inoculated at the vaccination drive that kicked off on Monday. CM Basavaraj Bommai, who launched the drive in the city, said there are 4,41,000 beneficiaries in 5,482 schools and 577 PU colleges. Over 22,000 children were jabbed in BBMP limits on Monday, about 50% of the day’s target. Kumaran P., Shilpa P and Hameed Ashraf report.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai launched a vaccination drive for children between the ages of 15 and 18 years at Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Government Girls High School in Bengaluru on Monday.

As announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25, 2021, vaccination drives for children in the 15-18 age group have begun across the country. Only Covaxin will be administered to them.
Minister of Science and Technology, Higher Education & IT BT, C.N. Ashwath Narayan, State Health Minister, Minister of Medical Education and Health Dr K. Sudhakar, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development V. Somanna and BBMP Commissioner Gaurav Gupta also attended the vaccination drive.

The vaccine will be administered to students who have registered on the CoWIN portal, although children can also visit their school to sign up. It is mandatory for them to carry an identification document, like an Aadhaar card.

Vaccines will be administered to students who have registered on the CoWIN portal, or through the school. Children can also visit the school to register for vaccines. They have been instructed to carry an identification document such as an Aadhaar card.

The vaccine is available across school campuses and vaccination centres. In the BBMP-run schools, vaccines are available between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm. The timings in other places may vary.
Launching the drive at Moodalapalya, the Chief Minister said that vaccinating and safeguarding the health of children between 15-18 years is important. “Based on past experiences, we have to manage it differently. Keeping in mind the improving financial situation, we will have to take strict measures to control the COVID spread. The government is considering it and there is a need for public cooperation,” Bommai said. According to the health department, about 8.6 crore people have been vaccinated in Karnataka with at least one dose, while about 146 crore people have been vaccinated with at least a single dose across the country so far.

According to Health Minister Dr K. Sudhakar, “Vaccinating and safeguarding the health of children between 15-18 years is important. Inoculating children of this age group will facilitate uninterrupted learning as they go through important phases in their academic lives.”

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has identified a target of 4,41,000 beneficiaries across 5,482 schools and 577 Pre-University Colleges for vaccination in the city.

—Hameed Ashraf

In Mysuru, 100 teams formed for vax drive

Mysuru: As many as 8000 children between the ages of 15 and 18 were vaccinated in Mysuru district on Monday on the first day of the Covid-19 vaccination drive for them.

Mysuru district minister, S.T. Somashekar, launched the vaccination drive at Maharani’s PU college in Mysuru on Monday.

Mysuru district health officer Dr K.H. Prasad said the department had a target of 10,000 children only for the first day. Some 1,47,279 children have been identified as eligible for the vaccination in Mysuru district. “We hope to complete the drive within 15 days,” he said.

Dr Prasad added that a hundred teams have been formed and that the department has planned vaccination drives at schools and colleges. “Children must get their parents’ mobile phone number and Aadhar Card on the day of the vaccination. Those children born in or before the year 2007 are eligible. Those who aren’t in schools can get their vaccinations at nearby public healthcare centres.”

Two cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 have been reported so far. Both were treated, cured and tested negative thereafter, according to Dr Prasad.

On January 3, 14 people tested positive for Covid-19 (among 2,970 tests done). There were no deaths. There are 131 active cases of Covid-19 at present in Mysuru district, out of which 100 are from Mysuru city, 16 in Mysuru taluk, five each in Nanjangud and K.R. Nagar, three in Periyapatna and two in T Narsipur. Among the 131 active cases, 74 have been isolated at home and the rest are being treated at dedicated Covid hospitals in Mysuru.

—Shilpa P.

Parents fume as schools make jabs mandatory

On Monday morning, parents in the city were taken aback when they received messages from school administrations saying