Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 5: Dakshina Kannada (DK) district has received a total of 21.5 tonnes of oxygen. As much as 5.5 tonne oxygen was received on Tuesday evening, and two consignments, one of seven tonnes, and the other nine tonnes, would be received by Wednesday morning. This oxygen will be stored in 26 private hospitals and five government hospitals. This was stated by deputy commissioner of the district Dr Rajendra K V.

He said that as of now, the district has no shortage of oxygen and in normal course, the district gets oxygen once in two days. "We have informed the government about the shortfall in oxygen supply from Palakkad on account of raw material problem. We have also suggested to get the oxygen needed from Ballari alternatively," he explained.

District in-charge minister, Kota Srinivas Poojary, said that only 15 percent of coronavirus patients in the district require medical oxygen. He said that the attention of Jagadish Shettar, who is in-charge of oxygen related issues, will be urged to provide additional quantum of oxygen to the district.

Udupi district surgeon Dr Madhusudan Nayak, said that the district hospital has stock of 3,000 litres of oxygen which might be sufficient for five to six days. He said that oxygen was supplied on Tuesday. As the number of patients requiring oxygen is increasing, 400 to 500 litres of oxygen is needed by the hospital every day, he stated.

Dakshina Kannada receives 7,000 Covishield doses

Dakshina Kannada district, on Tuesday May 4, received 7,000 Covishield vaccine doses from Bengaluru. From Wednesday, vaccines will be administered in the taluk and district hospital along with primary health centres and sub-centres too.

On Tuesday, first dose was administered to 166 persons aged over 60. As many as 472 received the second dose, the district administration stated.

Several health workers got the first dose while 39 got the second dose. Three frontline workers got the first dose while 27 got the second dose of the vaccine. As total of 350 persons in the age group between 45 and 60 got the first dose while 126 got the second dose. As the vaccine availability was restricted, a few centres hung the 'no vaccination board on Tuesday.

Health officials have said that the people who were administered Covaxin vaccine in the first dose need not panic, as it is enough if the second dose is administered within three months after getting the first dose.

Udupi district does not have enough stock of Covishield vaccine. Therefore, people who got the first dose over eight weeks numbering 947 have to be vaccinated on priority. Therefore, those who have exceeded eight weeks gap after the first dose can call the ASHA workers and get the second dose of the vaccine, the deputy commissioner said.

In a release, he further stated that the district does not have stock of Covaxin vaccine. He said that immediately after the same is supplied, those who got first dose over six weeks ago will be given second dose on priority. In the coming days, people who already have first dose will get preference. ASHA workers will convey information to the people and facilitate administration of first dose. Till then those who have not got the first doses have to wait for the vaccine, he stated.