Karnataka will resume vaccination for the 18-44 age group from May 22, but initially only for priority groups within this bracket, the Health Department has said. In an announcement made on May 22, the Karnataka Health Department said in a tweet, “Vaccination for 18-44 years age group is being resumed from 22.5.2021 and state procured vaccines will be utilised to vaccinate the eligible beneficiaries. State has identified corona front line warriors who will be receiving vaccination initially.”
It is after frontline workers that other priority groups “as per list will be vaccinated”. “Number of such vaccination sites and number of vaccinations per day will be decided by districts based on availability of vaccines,” the state Health Department further added.
The people who will be deemed as frontline workers are –
- Close family members of health workers.
- Teachers assigned to Covid-19 duty.
- Government transport personnel.
- Auto and cab drivers
- Electricity and Water Suppliers
- Postal Department staff
- street vendors
- Security and office keeping staff of offices
- Judicial officers
- Media persons
among others
After frontline workers, the other priority groups are – construction workers, telecom and internet service workers, airline service workers, bank officials, petrol pump workers, advocates, hotel workers, KMF workers, railway workers, garment factory workers, forest department official, NHAI officials, GAIL workers, RHK officials, state and national level sportspersons, HAL officials.
The Department further added that Deputy Commissioners at the district level and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Commissioner will be in-charge of vaccinating this group through the mode of workplace vaccination. District Collector and Chief Commissioner of the BBMP will be the nodal officers to facilitate vaccination with Covishield.
These enforcement officials will finalise the list of priority groups in their jurisdiction, and a nodal officer will be appointed to each group to facilitate vaccination. These nodal officers will issue an eligibility certificate for the category under which a person is vaccinated – this eligibility certificate will be mandatory to get the vaccine along with ID proof. The nodal officer will also notify on which day which group will be eligible for vaccination, according to a government notification on the matter.
Karnataka had from May 14 temporarily suspended vaccination for the 18-44 age group at government centres to prioritise vaccination those above 45 due for their second dose. "All vaccines available with the state government (i.e. supplied by Government of India and procured directly by state) will be utilized for vaccination of beneficiaries due for 2nd dose. In this regard vaccination for 18 to 44 age group (including those who have already booked appointments) will be temporarily suspended from 14.05.2021 till further orders. This order will be applicable for COVID vaccination at all Government COVID vaccination centres in the state," read a statement by the Karnataka Health Department.