Vaccination most effective way to be safe from COVID, students’ vaccination will help in resumption of offline studies- Dy CM Manish Sisodia
Hundred percent vaccination targeted by January 30 at over 300 government schools where more than 90% students in the age-group of 15-18 have been vaccinated
Vaccination programme lagging behind in private schools, only 42% eligible students benefited till now
NEW DELHI:
Keeping the health of Delhi government schoolchildren and their safety from COVID in mind, the Kejriwal government is running the vaccination programme on a large scale. As a result of this, about 85% students of Delhi government schools in the age-group of 15-18 years have been vaccinated till January 21. The Directorate of Education (DoE) has set a target of 100% vaccination till January 30, which appears within reach. Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Shri Manish Sisodia on Saturday said that vaccination is the most effective way to be safe from COVID and hence, it is extremely important that all eligible students get vaccinated at the earliest. In 12 out of the 15 education districts, 85% students of Delhi government schools have been vaccinated and there are about 300 schools where 90% eligible students have got the jab, he added.
Shri Sisodia further said that the speed at which the inoculation is being done in government schools is really commendable. In these unprecedented times of the pandemic, our teachers have been at the forefront. They are taking care of not just education but also vaccination of students. 100% vaccination of students will help us in shifting from online education to offline. Now that the COVID cases are declining considerably and most of the students in higher classes have been inoculated, a proposal may be placed before DDMA for reopening of schools.
On the one hand, while government schools are moving towards fulfilling their target of vaccination, on the other hand, vaccination is being done in private schools at a snail’s pace. Only 42% of eligible students have been vaccinated in private schools till January 21. Except East Delhi district, private schools have failed to achieve even 50% vaccination coverage. Private schools have about 3.5 lakh eligible students for COVID vaccination, but not even 2 lakhs have been vaccinated till date. Even aided schools haven’t fared well. So far only 57% of students have been vaccinated in aided schools.
Notably, the vaccination of students between the age group of 15-18 years began from January 3. The Kejriwal government had started making preparations for it on a war footing. A nodal in-charge was deployed at each school. Also, all class teachers were asked to ensure that information about the vaccination sites reached all the parents and students. The government had designated over 150 sites for vaccination of school students. The 20 school health clinics started at government schools were also turned into vaccination centers.