LOGISTICS IN PLACE FOR STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION OF VACCINE: KARNATAKA HEALTH MINISTER

State is fully prepared for vaccine collection, storage and distribution, said Health & Medical Education Minister Dr.K.Sudhakar. State will get 13.90 lakh doses of vaccines in the first phase, he said.

Speaking to the media after inspecting the state vaccine storage facility in Bengaluru on Sunday, the minister said that PM Modi will be interacting with the Chief Ministers of all the states through video conference on Monday. PM had already announced that vaccination drive will begin on January 16th. Health warriors will get 3 crore doses he said.

We have 2 vaccine storages each in Bengaluru and Belagavi. Apart from this we have 5 regional storage centres at Chitradurga, Kalburgi, Dakshina Kannada, Mysuru and Bagalakote. 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, said the Minister.

Explaining the system Dr.Sudhakar said that vaccine will be sent to regional storage centres through 900 vaccine carriers. It will be further distributed to district centres from there. We have 2 walk-in coolers in Bengaluru where we can store 45 lakh dosages in each cooler. Centre is also providing one walk-in freezer he added. 24 lakh syringes have arrived and we are getting 13.90 lakh dosages of vaccines in the first phase. State is fully prepared to distribute the vaccine, he added.

Health care wokers will be given the vaccine on priority. It will take 2 months to vaccinate the public. Experts opinion will be sought to decide whether every one should be vaccinated or not. If at all required elderly and vulnerable persons will be given vaccine said Dr.Sudhakar.

Other points made by the Minister include effective management of passengers data arriving at airports. The Minister also added that 289 passengers arrived from UK, all of them have undergone testing and one pool of 4 persons has been found positive. Infected person will be traced out with further tests and admitted to hospital.