To reduce the risk of people contracting COVID-19 while getting vaccinated, the State administration plans to shift vaccination sites from primary health centres (PHCs) and government hospitals to schools and colleges. This way, those who are due to get their first or second shot will not be exposed to patients visiting hospitals for treatment or to get tested.
Deputy Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan, who is the chairman of the COVID-19 task force, announced this decision at a press conference on Saturday. “People infected with COVID-19 will be visiting hospitals and PHCs. We don’t want people who come to get vaccinated to get infected, so we will be stopping vaccination at health facilities,” he said.
Sources in the COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) said vaccination sites would also be moved to spots such as community halls and large office complexes. “All that is needed is an ambulance, a staff nurse, three rooms, and emergency…