Highlighting that the Covid-19 positivity is on the rise, Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Thursday said only 17 per cent of people have taken booster doses and urged them to get booster shots of the vaccine.
The Minister noted that experts across the world have said that the immunity decreases or wanes after 6-7 months of taking the vaccine and the booster dose would be required to boost immunity again, also helps reduce hospitalisations and deaths. “Not taking the booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine even when it has been made available free for everyone amounts to negligence and we as responsible citizens must avail it to enhance immunity,” Sudhakar said.
Speaking to reporters after meeting with the Covid-19 technical advisory committee (TAC), he said the entire nation is seeing an uptick in the Covid-19 positivity rate and Delhi currently has a positivity rate of over 18 per cent. “The average positivity rate of Karnataka is 7.2 per cent at the moment. However, the positivity rate is higher than the State average of 7.2 per cent in cities like Bengaluru, Shivamogga, Bagalkot, Bellary. Dharwad currently has the highest positivity rate,” he added.
Karnataka is currently conducting 30,000 Covid-19 tests each day and as per the guidelines of the Union government, only those who are symptomatic are being tested. Even in case of primary contacts, only those who are symptomatic are being tested. Pointing to 100 per cent completion of the initial two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, the Minister expressed disappointment, saying only 17 per cent of people have taken the booster dose.
