Karnataka to float global tender to procure 2 crore COVID-19 vaccines
Bengaluru, May 13: The Karnataka government on Thursday announced floating a global tender for procuring two crore COVID-19 vaccines owing to supply shortage.
Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said a Task Force has been set up to oversee the preparation for a probable third wave of COVID-19.
"The state has placed a purchase order for three crore doses of vaccines, two crore doses of Covishield and one crore doses of Covaxin.
We are floating global tenders for an additional two crores," Yediyurappa told reporters here.
He was briefing them about the various measures initiated by his government to deal with the pandemic and improving the health infrastructure in the state.
On the occasion, he said the government was appointing Prof Kang as an adviser on vaccination strategy.
"She Prof Kang is a member of several advisory committees for the World Health Organisation (WHO), mainly related to research and the use of vaccines," he added.
According to Yediyurappa, so far 1.10 crore doses have been supplied by the Centre, of which 99.5 lakh are Covishield vaccines and 10.9 lakh are Covaxin.
He said that 14.87 lakh beneficiaries have completed 6 weeks after taking the first dose of Covishield vaccine and are eligible for second one, whereas 5.10 lakh beneficiaries have completed four weeks after taking the first dose of Covaxin.
Thus, a total of 19.97 lakh people are eligible for second dose as on today.
The state government had on Wednesday announced suspension of the vaccination drive for people between the age group of 18 and 44 years due to the shortage of vaccine.
It said the available stock will be utilised to vaccinate people who are due for second dose.
The Chief Minister also explained the various measures adopted since the outbreak of COVID in the state last year.
He claimed that the recent lockdown-like restrictions brought down the infections in the state from over 50,000 to less than 40,000 now.
To meet the increased oxygen requirement, the government decided to increase the supply of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO), massive scaling of localised generation capacity through oxygen generators and large scale procurement of concentrators and cylinders.
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BJP MP Yogender Chandolia calls AAP’s Amanatullah Khan ‘100 per cent criminal'
New Delhi: BJP MP Yogender Chandolia criticised AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, referring to him as "100 per cent criminal" following a controversy involving Khan's son. The remarks came after Delhi Police impounded a bike and registered a case against two individuals, one of whom claimed to be Khan’s son, for rash driving and misbehaviour.
The incident took place in Okhla during a security patrol ahead of Republic Day. According to police, the youths were riding a motorcycle with a modified silencer, driving recklessly, and making loud noises. When confronted, one of them claimed to be Amanatullah Khan's son and accused the officers of targeting him due to his father’s political position.
The police stated that the individuals refused to provide their identification and licenses. Despite Amanatullah Khan reportedly speaking with the Station House Officer, the youths left without disclosing their details. The bike was subsequently impounded, and fines amounting to ₹20,000 were imposed for violating the Motor Vehicle Act.
Chandolia commended the police action, stating, “Rash driving can prove fatal. It’s good that the police seized his son’s vehicle. People like Amanatullah Khan of AAP are 100 per cent criminals. These people think Delhi is their father’s property.”
Chandolia also criticised Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that his government has failed to clean the Yamuna in 10 years. He remarked, “Anna Hazare should disassociate himself from Kejriwal, who has destroyed Delhi rather than developing it.”
The controversy emerges as Delhi gears up for assembly elections, scheduled for February 5, with vote counting on February 8.
