Kerala: Health department plans mass vaccination in Edamalakudy

IDUKKI: After two Covid cases were reported from Edamalakudy tribal panchayat under Munnar forest division, the health department has decided to vaccinate all the residents in the 18-plus age category in the local body immediately. In addition, the health department has confirmed that both people were infected from Kottayam Medical College Hospital and there was no need to panic.



On Monday, a 40-year-old woman from Irupukallukudy and a 24-year-old youth from Eddaliparakudy were tested positive for Covid-19 to become the first Covid cases in tribal panchayat located inside deep forest. The woman tested positive for the virus at Kottayam MCH where she was admitted for treatment. The youth tested positive at a private hospital in Munnar after he returned from Kottayam MCH after being the bystander of a relative.

Idukki district medical officer (DMO) N Priya said that they had confirmed that both the persons got infected from outside the tribal panchayat. “Both patients left from the settlements several days before and had no contact with the people there. After the women turned positive, the health department verified whether any person had any symptoms of the infection,” said Priya.

She said that to protect the tribespeople from the virus they had decided to vaccinate all the residents above 18 years of age immediately. “Earlier, we decided to vaccinate the people in the village but they were reluctant to take vaccines. But after two tested positive, many people have informed their willingness to take vaccines. The medical team will visit the settlements next week and administer the vaccine,” she added.

Edamalakudy panchayat secretary in-charge Anish Kumar said the panchayat also confirmed that the people who tested positive had no contact with their settlements. “We allow the people to return to their settlements only after completing the quarantine period,” said the official.

Adimali tribal development officer Anil Bhaskar said that tribal promoters will accompany the medical team to Edamalakkudy next week.