Teen vaccine in Indore, Madhya Pradesh still struggles to vaccinate 69 thousand teenagers, school drop outs
It’s getting tough for administration to achieve 100 percent vaccination for school students in the age group of 15 to 18 years. Despite efforts, more than 69,000 such teenagers have not even taken their first dose.
Failing to reach out to students in many areas and aversion of vaccines by a specific community, the administration involved religious leaders and schools to help in achieving targets.
Schools have been instructed to track drop-out students, reach them, counsel them and facilitate vaccination with health department teams.
The administration has set Covid-19 vaccination target for adolescents of 15-18 years to be 100% at the earliest.
With the aim of getting 100 percent vaccination to 15-18 year old teenagers in the district, schools are sending messages to all the students of school in the age group of 15 years to 18 years.
However, the challenge is to trace and counsel drop-out students. “Most students in private schools in the age group of 15 years to 18 years have taken the first jab, the drop-outs are hard to reach and find,” Gopal Soni, state vice president of MP board private school association, said.
To find the students, previous year’s records are being analysed. “We are doing our bit but those who don't want to get vaccinated, then a counselling team from district administration might have to reach out to the families,” he said.
Vaccination is mostly such children in the remaining 69 thousand children, who are not going to school, as per government official statements.
Aiming to vaccinate such children, another drive with help of NGOs is being run in the city. Under the drive, a vaccination van is being taken to various areas after analysis and counselling in the areas.
Such children who are living on streets or in the slum area are visited. Such families are explained how it is more essential for them to be vaccinated for the betterment of everyone and themselves.
The Child Line, Women and Child Development Department, from the joint aid of the Municipal Corporation and the Health Department are conducting this drive with help from the school education department.
The drive has already been in Khajrana Chauraha, Baba's Bagh, Jhala Colony, Mayapuri and Manasab Nagar.
Coordinator Rahul Gothane said, “Under the drive, we were able to convince and vaccinate about 90 children in the age group of 15 years and 18 years till now.”
Failing to reach out to students in many areas and aversion of vaccines by a specific community, the administration involved religious leaders and schools to help in achieving targets.
Schools have been instructed to track drop-out students, reach them, counsel them and facilitate vaccination with health department teams.
The administration has set Covid-19 vaccination target for adolescents of 15-18 years to be 100% at the earliest.
With the aim of getting 100 percent vaccination to 15-18 year old teenagers in the district, schools are sending messages to all the students of school in the age group of 15 years to 18 years.
However, the challenge is to trace and counsel drop-out students. “Most students in private schools in the age group of 15 years to 18 years have taken the first jab, the drop-outs are hard to reach and find,” Gopal Soni, state vice president of MP board private school association, said.
To find the students, previous year’s records are being analysed. “We are doing our bit but those who don't want to get vaccinated, then a counselling team from district administration might have to reach out to the families,” he said.
Vaccination is mostly such children in the remaining 69 thousand children, who are not going to school, as per government official statements.
Aiming to vaccinate such children, another drive with help of NGOs is being run in the city. Under the drive, a vaccination van is being taken to various areas after analysis and counselling in the areas.
Such children who are living on streets or in the slum area are visited. Such families are explained how it is more essential for them to be vaccinated for the betterment of everyone and themselves.
The Child Line, Women and Child Development Department, from the joint aid of the Municipal Corporation and the Health Department are conducting this drive with help from the school education department.
The drive has already been in Khajrana Chauraha, Baba's Bagh, Jhala Colony, Mayapuri and Manasab Nagar.
Coordinator Rahul Gothane said, “Under the drive, we were able to convince and vaccinate about 90 children in the age group of 15 years and 18 years till now.”