Calangute/Panaji: Just 1,015 children in the age group of 12-14 years, constituting two per cent of the targeted 50,000 children, received the first dose of the Covid vaccine on Wednesday and Thursday, mostly at health centres. This age group is being administered the Corbevax vaccine. The second dose is due after 28 days. In Candolim, the primary health centre saw 29 students receive their first Covid dose on Wednesday, day one of the vaccination programme. Most of the students on the first day were from St Theresa School, Candolim. The next group is scheduled to receive the dose on March 21. Candolim PHC health officer Dr Roshan Nazareth said the vaccination programme of the students is likely to be slow down because of examinations. “It all depends on the schools. We have given the children and schools the flexibility to choose when they want to be vaccinated as they are also going to answer their exams shortly. It’s not nice to disturb the students during the exams because they're appearing for physical exams after a long time,” he said. The Candolim PHC covers eight village panchayats including Calangute, Nerul, Pilerne and Reis Magos. “We have informed the schools to let us know when they want to do it and it all depends on the number of students who can come. Accordingly we’ll schedule the programmes,” Nazareth said.
Panaji: Starting Wednesday, the health department will begin vaccinations for around 50,000 children in the age group of 12 and 14 against Covid-19. The eligible children will be given two doses with a gap of 28 days, Dr Rajendra Borkar, state immunisation officer, said. As per the guidelines issued by the Union ministry of health and family welfare, children in the age bracket of 12-14 will be administered with Corbevax vaccine. Last month, it attained the target of fully vaccinating 11.6 lakh population above 18 years. Presently, vaccination of children in the age group of 15 and 18 is under way, with 89% doubly vaccinated. “In view of the schools having reopened, the vaccination will extend protection against Covid-19 to all the children in the eligible age. Parents are requested to get their children inoculated,” said Borkar. The state will also begin administering booster doses to 60-plus people, irrespective of whether they have comorbidities or not.
