The health department has decided to seek the assistance of NGOs to identify children between 15 and 18 years of age, not attending school or college and inoculate them.
Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu government has commenced administering vaccines for children between 15 and 18 years of age. Against the backdrop of this, the Health Department will partner with NGOs, to identify those not attending school and inoculate them.
The Covid-19 vaccination programme for 15 to 18-year-olds across the country started on January 10. The District Health Department decided to provide vaccinations at the schools and colleges instead of hosting separated camps. A target of inoculating 1.61-lakh students is set.
However, the Health Department has stated that there are issues in identifying children not attending schools and colleges, thus making it not possible to immunize them. The Health Department is planning to combine and work with the Non-Governmental Organizations, self-help organizations and women Self Help Groups to identify non-school and non-college goers to vaccinate them.
The Deputy Director of Health P Aruna stated “Out of 1.61-lakh people in Coimbatore district who are estimated to be between 15 and 18 years of age, 1.25-lakh are studying in schools and colleges. Out of these, 1.13-lakh are vaccinated. Action is being taken to immunize the remaining 12,000 children. Some are reluctant to get vaccinated. Awareness is being created for them through teachers and professors.”
She added that there is a lot of difficulty in finding the locations of 36,000 who do not go to school or college. Measures are being taken with the assistance of SHGs and NGOs to identify them and expedite the inoculation project.
The Covid-19 vaccination programme for 15 to 18-year-olds across the country started on January 10. The District Health Department decided to provide vaccinations at the schools and colleges instead of hosting separated camps. A target of inoculating 1.61-lakh students is set.
However, the Health Department has stated that there are issues in identifying children not attending schools and colleges, thus making it not possible to immunize them. The Health Department is planning to combine and work with the Non-Governmental Organizations, self-help organizations and women Self Help Groups to identify non-school and non-college goers to vaccinate them.
The Deputy Director of Health P Aruna stated “Out of 1.61-lakh people in Coimbatore district who are estimated to be between 15 and 18 years of age, 1.25-lakh are studying in schools and colleges. Out of these, 1.13-lakh are vaccinated. Action is being taken to immunize the remaining 12,000 children. Some are reluctant to get vaccinated. Awareness is being created for them through teachers and professors.”
She added that there is a lot of difficulty in finding the locations of 36,000 who do not go to school or college. Measures are being taken with the assistance of SHGs and NGOs to identify them and expedite the inoculation project.