Covid-19 vaccination drive to take place in schools

Bengaluru: Karnataka government informed that it is looking forward to decentralising the vaccination drive by opening up smaller session sites in schools and colleges. It came in 24 hours after the government declared that the drive in primary healthcare centres and government hospitals are coming to a halt.

Apart from picking government schools and colleges for the vaccination drive, the government could also take the help of private schools and colleges to make sure that people are vaccinated without inconvenience. The drive is expected to continue next week in schools and colleges.

The government took the decision to move the drive out of PHCs and government hospitals due to insufficient space which leads to overcrowding. Also, tests and treatments for Covid positive patients are held at the same time and this increases the fear of the spread of the infection. Currently, the government has closed all schools and colleges until further notice due to the spike in Covid cases.

About the details of their plans, deputy chief minister CN Ashwath Narayan said that initially, the government will use government schools and colleges and will later expand the drive to open spaces.

He said, “With the supply of vaccines being limited, smaller areas like schools and colleges will be ideal. We will prepare a list of government schools and colleges in every ward and gram panchayat where doses will be administered. Once supply increases, we will then go for mass vaccinations in open grounds and parks.”

He added that private schools and colleges will be included in places where there are no government institutions. Narayan said, “Our aim is to decentralise the vaccination process and have smaller vaccination points rather than one location where overcrowding would be a concern.”

According to the sources, the government will issue necessary orders regarding the number of slots in the next one or two days.