– Reshma Ravishanker

In Karnataka where the Omicron variant has triggered a spurt in the number of Covid-19 cases, 3.80 lakh students in the age group 15-18 years received the first dose of Covaxin, according to the state department of health and family welfare. The health department, in collaboration with the state’s education department, began vaccinating children with schools and pre-university colleges as primary vaccination sites. However, against its target to vaccinate 6.38 lakh students (of the total 32 lakh beneficiaries in this age group) on Day 1, the state managed to achieve only half of this target.

Schools and colleges across the state where the vaccination drive commenced were abuzz with students lining up in large numbers. Challenges, however, of students not being registered on the Cowin app, not producing mandatory parental consent forms were encountered on day 1.

At National PU College in Bengaluru, hundreds of students gathered at the premises to get jabbed. “We are allowing students in batches. In all, we have 950 students. Parent consent forms were given to them on Friday and have received good response from parents,” said Narayana Swamy, principal, National PU College.    

Karnataka’s minister for Primary and Secondary Education BC Nagesh in an official statement urged parents to give their consent to vaccination as it would enable the delivery of uninterrupted education to all children. “145 crore people countrywide have been fully vaccinated so far. In the days to come, the education of no child should suffer because of Covid. Hence, it is my humble appeal to parents to willingly get their children vaccinated. This will help us keep the schools functioning full-fledged like the usual,” he said.

Comments Chidananda PE, member, Voice of Parents: “Some parents fear that the vaccine is not safe enough for children and are scared of adverse reactions. They want more medical evidence. The government should first commence vaccinating students at hospitals and once it picks up pace, it could be moved to educational institutions.” 

Vaccination drive for children aged between 15 and 18 against the Covid 19 virus commenced across the country on January 3.

Also read: States which have shut down schools amid Omicron scare