Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (DV)

Udupi, Jan 9: Deputy commissioner (DC) M Kurma Rao on Saturday January 8 asked the Health department officials to make all the necessary arrangements to administer 'precautionary’ or booster Covid-19 doses for the health and frontline workers and persons above 60 years with co-morbidities from January 10.

The DC had a virtual meeting with the officials of Health department regarding essential measures to be taken during the administration of precautionary Covid-19 doses.

"As the cases of coronavirus are increasing, the government has decided to administer the precautionary doses as a safety measure to the health and frontline workers who are making efforts to contain the spread of the virus. The precautionary dose should be administered to those health and frontline workers who have completed 9 months after receiving the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine," he said.

The DC also asked the officials to open a separate vaccination centers at the district and taluk levels to administer the vaccines, facilitating frontline workers including police and revenue staff, gram panchayat and local bodies’ employees. He also directed to open a special vaccination center to administer vaccines for the employees of the revenue department at the DC office, a vaccination center at Chandu Maidan for the police staff, make arrangements to administer vaccines in all the primary health centers of the district and instructed the officials to provide details about the vaccination centers in advance.

Rao also asked the officials of the health department and the frontline workers, to provide information about the precautionary doses to their staff and to also encourage them to receive the vaccine. With a target, draw a plan so that eligible health and frontline workers receive the precautionary dose within a week, he advised.

“The officials should strictly see that the Covid appropriate behaviour is strictly followed in the district. Impose fine on those who violate the guidelines,” the DC said in addition asking the officials to inspect the tourist spots in the district.

“The vehicles disposing solid waste should create awareness on containing the spread of Covid using loudspeakers. Create awareness every day. All rural and ward task forces should create awareness against the pandemic by holding the meetings,” he said.

Zilla panchayat CEO Dr Naveen Bhat, ADC Sadashiva Prabhu, DHO Dr Nagbushan Udupa, district Covid vaccination in-charge Dr M G Rama, representative of WHO Dr Sathishchandra and other officers were present.