From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jun 21: Karnataka aims to vaccinate every eligible citizen by the end of December and make the state free from the Covid-19 pandemic, health and medical education minister Dr K Sudhakar said on Monday.
Chief minister BS Yediyurappa flagged off the 'Lasika Maha Abhiyana' at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College, organized on the occasion of International Yoga Day.
Speaking to the media, Dr Sudhakar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has suggested organising an accelerated vaccination drive to mark Yoga Day.
"Today, we have set a target to inoculate about 7 lac people in a single day. Our aim to vaccinate every eligible citizen by the end of December and make the state free from Covid-19,’’ he declared.
Dr Sudhakar said the theme of this year's International Yoga Day is 'Be with Yoga, Yoga for Wellness.'
"In the wake of the pandemic this year too, we need to celebrate Yoga Day in our homes. Yoga is necessary not just for an individual's physical and mental health but also for societal health. Yoga is India's gift to the world and it is a matter of pride that the whole world is celebrating Yoga Day every year on June 21, ever since the Prime Minister proposed this at UN General Assembly in September 2014,’’ he added.
"Gita says that our body is akin to a chariot whose charioteer is our mind and our senses are the horses of the chariot. If only our mind is sound and balanced the senses (horses) will move in the right direction. Yoga helps in maintaining a sound and balanced mind which is in sync with our body. The benefits of pranayama for the health of the lungs is immense. Yoga also increases our immunity power,’’ the minister said.
1.86 crore doses administered in state
The health minister said the state has a stock of about 15 lac doses of Covishield and 6 to 7 lac doses of Covaxin.
More than 1.86 crore doses have been administered so far in 13,000 vaccination centres across the state.
"Even if we achieve 70 to 80 doses per Centre we will meet our target. Active participation from citizens is crucial for the success of vaccination drive,’’ he said.
The awareness about the importance of vaccine has increased now. Initially, people were hesitant but gradually the hesitancy has come down, he said pointing out that people have now realised that vaccine is the best way to protect themselves from the virus, minister said.
The state government is not hiding any data. The central government itself has praised that Karnataka as a model in publishing data with transparency, Dr Sudhakar added.