From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Apr 29: The phase IV vaccination drive for the 18 to 44 years age group scheduled to commence from May 1 will be taken up in a phased manner, chief minister B S Yediyurappa said on Thursday.

In a signed press release, the chief minister said the whole country is battling against the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The government and the society have stood together in this fight. The virus spread was imminent in a vast country like India with a higher population density. Yet we have managed to overcome the first wave with minimal losses. But the second wave is testing our capacity,’’ he said.

File photo

Pointing out that the vaccine is the prime weapon to fight against the Covid pandemic, the chief minister said the Centre has supplied 99.40 lac doses of vaccine to the state so far and 93.50 lac doses have been administered.

1 cr doses being procured, order for 1 cr more doses

"Around 5.9 lac doses are available,’’ he said adding: "The state government is procuring 1 crore doses of vaccine. A work order has been placed to procure 1 crore additional doses of vaccine. The fourth phase of vaccination drive will be taken up in stages.’’

The efforts of all hospitals, healthcare workers and those who were vaccinated are commendable as this mission is continuing smoothly, he said explaining that the 4th phase, which intends to vaccinate the bigger group of the population in the country.

The Government of India, on the request of many states, has liberalised this phase for procurement of vaccines and implementation plan, he said pointing out that so far vaccination was taken up in three phases.

Phase one for healthcare workers, second for frontline workers and third for people above 45 years of age, he said pointing out that the pharmaceutical companies are enhancing their production capacity to meet out the increased demand.

Under these circumstances, vaccination drive will continue based on the availability of vaccines. The drive will be planned to ensure systematic, disciplined and smooth implementation, Yediyurappa said.

The chief minister said India has been successful in developing homemade vaccines due to the efforts of the scientists and pharma companies with strong support from the Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Though efforts made to fulfil the increasing demand for beds, oxygen, and ventilators in hospitals, there is a need to enhance them, he said.

The vaccine is the prime weapon to fight against the Covid pandemic. India has been successful in developing homemade vaccines due to the efforts of the scientists and pharma companies with strong support from the Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"I am sure that we will win over Covid-19 with these steps,’’ Yediyurappa added.