Healthcare, Frontline Staff Must Take COVID-19 Vaccination To Prevent Second Wave In Karnataka: State Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar

Bengaluru: All healthcare and front-line warriors must take COVID-19 vaccination to prevent the outbreak of the second wave of coronavirus in Karnataka, said state Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Saturday (February 20). He said that the Chief Minister himself will release a video message urging the employees to take the vaccine shot against COVID-19. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi Government is providing free of cost vaccination to all. There is no reason for anyone to hesitate from taking the vaccine. All staff of every department should take the shot, Chief Minister will be giving a video message shortly urging the employees to take the shot, said the Minister,” Dr Sudhakar said.

Also Read: Sanitation Workers To Receive COVID Vaccine In Karnataka’s Kalaburagi In The First Phase Of Vaccination Drive

The health minister said that the severity of the infection will be reduced after the vaccination thereby reducing the mortality rate. He also urged people to strictly follow the guidelines and they should restrict large gatherings during marriage and other functions. Stressing that the state government is observing strict measures to prevent the second wave, he said,

The Brazil variant is not reported in our country. COVID is gradually decreasing, but nonetheless, we need to be cautious.

On the measures taken to restrict entry from other states, he said that since the number of cases increased in the neighbouring states like Kerala and Maharashtra and there are all possibilities that the same may happen here.

Therefore, orders have been issued to passengers entering from those states to compulsorily have RT-PCR negative report while entering our state. The District administrations of border districts have been asked to take necessary action in this regard.

A video conference will be held with District Collectors (DCs) of all districts regarding further measures to be taken in the state.

If we succeed in preventing the second wave then the question of lockdown does not arise, he added.

Also Read: We Need To Prevent Spread Of AIDS By Taking Precautions, Raising Awareness: Karnataka Health Minister

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.