Karnataka: All College Students, Teachers To Be Vaccinated By July

The Karnataka government has stated that all students, teachers, and staff members of the colleges and institutions will be vaccinated against Covid-19 by July, after which the offline classes in institutions would resume.

"Once the vaccination to important stakeholders is confirmed, the Karnataka government would reopen the higher education institutes. It has been advised that vaccination for students and teachers should be prioritised," stated Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.

The Chief Minister was addressing following a high-level committee meeting convened by the Karnataka government "to analyse, help, and control the Covid-19 third wave."

Yediyurappa went on to say that an expert team chaired by Dr. Devi Shetty has issued many recommendations ahead of the pandemic's expected third wave. "The establishment of Paediatric high-dependency facilities, special peadiatric wings at state medical colleges, as well as Intensive Care Units at Taluk and district hospitals have been proposed by the Committee," he said.

"The experts advised several strategies to address any potential shortage of oxygen supply. It also discussed giving importance to solving post-Covid health difficulties and other associated challenges, as well as strategy to boost vaccine drives was also considered. According to the Committee, to stop the Covid-19 pandemic, complete vaccination is the best solution," added Yediyurappa.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwathnarayan, who also chairs the state's Covid-19 ministerial panel, stated that students and faculty at colleges will be inoculated through special vaccination drives on a priority basis. "In the coming days, special vaccination drives will be organised in all colleges and institutions, similar to the 'Maha Lasika Abhiyana." We will be allowed to resume classes at colleges once all professors, non-teaching staff, and students have been vaccinated," said the minister, who also oversees higher education.

Meanwhile, Karnataka has reported about 28.11 lakh virus-related infections and 34,025 fatalities. Almost 2 crore Covid vaccine doses have been provided across the state, with nearly 1.65 crore of them being first doses.