Amidst growing fear of a fresh wave of Covid-19, the district administration has geared itself with a focus on vaccination. With Covid vaccination for children aged 12-14 kicking-off, schools are reaching out to students in different ways to get them to register.

The administration on Monday set up its centres at Loyola School, Rajendra Vidhaylaya, Vidya Bharati Chinmaya Vidyalaya and DBMS, Kadma. 

“We have started reaching out to parents and telling them their children will now be eligible for vaccination. Our teachers are also reaching out to them over call to make sure as many as possible know about this and we are collecting no-objection certificates from them. Since schools are open, and we are having 90% attendance, it isn’t too much a challenge. It’s a very good thing for our students that we have the centre right here in our school,” said an official of a city-based school.

He went on to add that they have sent out a message to the parents. They will also be conducting orientation sessions for the new academic session soon and will be conveying the information to them as well. I’m sure the number of centres will increase soon and that will make it more convenient for them to get it done.

Children born on or before March 28, 2010 are eligible for vaccination with Corbevax that will be given in two doses of 0.5 ml each. The second dose will be after a gap of 28 days.

Seeking the cooperation of schools, the health department has said school heads should set aside three rooms, adequate staff and water for the camps by ensuring COVID protocols are maintained.

“The phone numbers of parents or guardians or  teachers/headmasters can be used as facilitators and school identity cards or aadhar cards can be used as photo ID to register online for vaccination. The camps should be monitored and supervised by higher officials including  DDPIs and BEOs. In BBMP limits, DDPIs of Bengaluru North and Bengaluru South should supervise,” the circular stated.

In view of a possible third wave of Covid, Deputy Commissioner Vijaya Jadhav Rao gave important instructions to all the senior officers, deputy superintendent of police, incident commanders and police station in-charges regarding the necessary protective action to be taken. She said that necessary guidelines have been given for prevention and rescue. They have been asked to comply with the instructions in their work areas.

She said that although at present the active rate of corona cases has come down but the infection has not been completely eradicated. There is also a need to be alert mode in view of the possible transition of the fresh wave. The guidelines for unlock/lockdown issued by the Jharkhand government need to be implemented.