Bengaluru:
Covid vaccines will be provided free of cost to people in the 18-44 age group, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa tweeted Monday. Mr Yediyurappa said the vaccines would be available at all state-run vaccination centres and urged those eligible to register for doses starting Wednesday.
People over 45 will continue to get vaccines as part of the centre’s drive, the Chief Minister said.
“COVID-19 vaccines will be provided free of cost to citizens between 18-44 years of age at all government vaccination centers across Karnataka. Union Government vaccination drive for citizens above 45 will continue. I urge all eligible to register themselves from April 28,” Mr Yediyurappa tweeted.
Covid19 vaccine will be provided free of cost to citizens between 18-44 years of age at all govt vaccination centers across Karnataka. Union Govt vaccination drive for citizens above 45 years of age will continue.
I urge all eligible to register themselves from April 28.
— B.S. Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) April 26, 2021
Karnataka joins a growing list of states – including Maharashtra, Delhi, Assam and Kerala – in making vaccination free in an effort to encourage people to get the shot and, hopefully, break the chain of transmission as a devastating second wave of infections sweeps through the country.
The centre will widen the vaccine net from May 1, when everyone over the age of 18 will be eligible to get the shot. Until then only those over the age of 45 are eligible.
The southern state – one of those badly hit by the second wave – will impose a two-week curfew starting 9 pm tomorrow. Essential services can function between 6 and 10 am, but shops will close after that and there will be no public transport during curfew hours, the Chief Minister said.
On Sunday the state reported 34,804 new COVID-19 cases – a record daily high – to take its active caseload to over 2.6 lakh and total cases (since the pandemic began two years ago) to 13.39 lakh.
A total of 143 deaths were reported in 24 hours; official the total number of deaths is 14,426.
State capital and IT hub Bengaluru – a city of 12 million – reported more than 20,000 new infections on Sunday, its highest 24-hour rise, second only to Delhi.
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