COVID Vaccine Bangalore – Latest Updates on Coronavirus Vaccine Trials and Release

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Updated 14 May, 2021

The charming and chaotic city of Bangalore, popularly known as the Silicon Valley of India, has been struggling with the severity of the raging pandemic for almost a year. With over 10.1 lakh cases and over 9,000 fatalities reported to date, the capital city of Karnataka still reels under the devastating effects of this global crisis. 

With the mass immunization drive having started on 16 January, what are the latest updates about the vaccination procedure in Bangalore right now? How is it being carried out?

Updates on the COVID vaccine in Bangalore

Amid a severe shortage of Covid-19 vaccine in the state and the suspension of the vaccine drive to the 18-44 year age group, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa-led Karnataka government is now mulling the possibility to start Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing at a government-run facility in Bengaluru. To tackle this, the government has decided to limit its stock to those who are getting the second dose in the 45+ age bracket.

 

What vaccines are available now?

Covishield

The Covishield is based on the viral vector platform. In simple terms, it is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus, called adenovirus, from chimpanzees and has been modified to look more like coronavirus.

On May 13, the Indian government increased the interval between the first and second doses of Covishield to 12-16 weeks. It has a shelf life of 9 months at a normal refrigerator temperature of 2-8 degrees celsius.

Overall efficacy: around 90%

Covaxin

Developed by Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), COVAXIN is India’s first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Covaxin is an inactivated vaccine. It contains the dead virus, which prompts an immune response but doesn’t infect or make the person sick.

Covaxin requires two doses given 28 days apart and can be stored at a normal refrigerator temperature of 2-8 degrees celsius. It has a shelf life of 24 months.

Overall efficacy: 80.6%

Sputnik V

Sputnik V got approved by DCGI on 13 April and will soon become available for distribution.

Russia’s Sputnik V has also conducted a combined phase two-three trial in India. This has been under the initiative of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) which went into a distribution partnership with the firm in September. Now approved, it will be manufactured domestically in the country by five different companies.

Overall efficacy: 95%

 

When can Bangalore residents be vaccinated?

The inoculation procedure in Bangalore will be carried out in three phases: 

• Phase 1 focuses on health care workers.
• Phase 2 is for the police, armed forces, all BBMP ( Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike- Municipal Corporation), and disaster management volunteers
• Phase 3 focuses on individuals above the age of 50 years and those under 50 with comorbidities.
• Phase 4, which started on 1 May will includes everyone above the age of 18.

Due to an acute shortage of COVID vaccines’ supply, Bangalore started Phase 4 on 10 May, which has again been halted.

 

Where to get vaccinated in Bangalore?

According to the Health Minister of Karnataka, K. Sudhakar, the government has taken the following steps for COVID 19 vaccinations.

• 29, 451 different sites have been identified in Karnataka for vaccination
• The government has also identified over 10,000 vaccinators within the State
• The government has done this by sticking to the norms set by the Universal Immunization Programme

Check the complete list of free government vaccination centres in Bangalore here and the list of vaccine hospitals here.

 

Adults in the 18-45 age group can take their jabs at government medical colleges, ESI hospitals, NIMHANS, and the following three centres once they become available-

 KC General Hospital
Ground, Malleswaram Circle, Police Station Rd, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003 

CV Raman General Hospital
68/1, 4th B Cross Rd, Kalyan Nagar, Michael Palaya, H Colony, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560038

Jayanagar General Hospital
32nd Cross, 4th B Block, beside Rajiv Gandhi Health Institute, Tilak Nagar, Jayanagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560041

 

How to register for vaccination in Bangalore?

Appointments for vaccination can be booked through the CoWIN website, Aarogya Setu app or the UMANG app.

Keep in mind that every user of either platform can register at the most 4 beneficiaries.

CoWIN

1. Open the CoWIN online portal.
2. Click on the ‘Register/Sign In Yourself’ yellow button. Those who are using it for the first time will need to register themselves with their photo ID proof (Aadhar Card/ Driving License/ PAN Card/ Passport/ Pension Passbook), photo ID number, name, and birth year. Those who have registered can sign in with an OTP.
3. Click on ‘Schedule Appointment’.
4. Once you enter the pin code of your area, you’ll be shown a list of vaccination centres in that area of Bangalore.
5. Select the timing slot comfortable for you and ‘confirm’ your appointment.

Upon successful registration, you will receive an SMS with the appointment details.

Aarogya Setu

1. Download the app on Google Play or iOS App Store.
2. On the app’s homepage, click on the ‘CoWIN’ tab on the top right.
3. Select the ‘Register Now’ option and verify your mobile number with an OTP.
4. Fill in details such as name, age, gender, year of birth, etc, and upload a photo ID proof.
5. Search for your convenient vaccination centre in Bangalore by entering the pin code of your locale, and choose the date and time of your appointment.

Upon successful registration, you will receive an SMS with the appointment details.

UMANG

1. Download the UMANG app on Google Play or iOS App Store.
2. First, register yourself on the app (if you haven’t already done so) with an OTP.
3. Click on the “Health” category and select “Co-WIN”.
4. Fill in details such as name, age, gender, year of birth, etc, and upload a photo ID proof.
5. Search for your convenient vaccination centre in Bangalore by entering the pin code of your locale or your district, and choose the date and time slot convenient to you.

Upon successful registration, you will receive an SMS with the appointment details.

 

How much will the vaccination cost?

The vaccines are available free of cost in all government centres while private facilities charge INR 250 for a single dose of any vaccine.