Bengaluru: Karnataka must manage at least four doses of crore vaccines before the end of September to protect people from the third wave of anticipated Covid-19 infection, the experts said.
This means requiring a 2.5-crore dose that is surprising a month to cover a qualified population that requires the first and second dose.
During the video conference on Friday, the Chairman of the Minister of BS Yediyurappa asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to supply 1.5 doses of crore a month.
Experts, however, said this would not be enough to ensure protection against the third wave.
The only way in the future, they said, is to increase supply or prioritize the second dose from next month.
“Ideally, 80% of the population of adults must be vaccinated with both doses in October,” said Dr.
V Ravi, Virology, and members of the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
“If it is not possible, we need to record at least 75% of those who qualify with one dose.
Consider supply constraints, this looks like a high order, but the government must do the best to increase supply.” About 2.7 crore from 4.9 Crore who qualified to receive a vaccine has been inoculated with one dose and around 51 lakh is fully vaccinated.
This means that around 2.2 crores have not received a dose.
Experts say it is very important that the population part gets the first dose before the third wave hit – at the end of September.
Although this itself is a frightening task, a bigger challenge is to fulfill demand for the second dose that will soar from mid-August and reach its peak on September 21.
Because the 12-16 week interval will end up in most people who have taken the first dose from mid-August, vaccination centers are expected to look in massive rushes.
About 10.7 Lakh, the highest, took the first dose on June 21 when the center launched a special drive on Yoga Day.
Their second dose will mature on September 21.
Factors in people who are looking for the first dose and Karnataka will be allowed to stare at the colossal deficiency.
The state requires at least 1.7 crores (80% of 2.2 crore) doses per month for those who have not yet been accounced and 1.9 crores for those who need the second dose.
This center released a 5.7 lakh dose on Thursday, which rises stock 5 of the existing lakh doses.
But the supply is uncertain.
“The center has assured us that it will increase supply from next week.
We have difficult tasks in hand considering land reality.
While we hope the supply scenario will increase, we will provide a second dose on priority.
Those who are looking for the first dose may have to wait, “Ps Ravi Kumar, the secretary’s head.