Coimbatore: A total of 11,008 children in the age group 15-18 years were vaccinated in the district on the first day of child vaccination on Monday.
Of the 1.61 lakh children in the age group, the district government has planned to cover 16,000 on the first day in 83 schools.
Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) Workers from the Ministry of Health visit schools, government hospitals and public health facilities where people walk with their children for vaccination.
Vaccination of children arousing a mixed response from parents, said an official of the school education department.
While some people are interested in the vaccination of children remembering the new Omicron variant and believe that vaccination will make children safe from viruses, others worry.
S Rangasamy, 45, Karamadai said he wanted to wait a few more days to see the vaccine response before getting his 15-year-old daughter vaccinated.
Even though he was fully vaccinated, after several relatives developed post-vaccinated fever, he was worried.
Netha’s education officer said several students were abandoned from vaccination drives on Monday after their parents objected.
“Because of the first day, we expect such a problem.
We will persuade parents who are worried after most students are vaccinated,” he told Toi.
Dr.
Seraalhan, Chief Medical Officer from a government hospital in Periyanaikenpalayam, said the drive of the first day said the response was lukewarm.
GH is one among many walk-in vaccination centers for the age group 15-18.
“Some parents demanded Covishield instead of Covaxin for their ward.
But the government only mandates Covaxin for pediatric vaccination.
Parents have perceptions that their ward may not be able to travel abroad if they take Covaxin.” A senior official was revealed by hope.
That vaccination for children will be completed before January 10 as a booster dose for frontline workers will begin that day.
It will be challenging to manage resources by having a specialized counter for pediatric vaccination and vaccinating them that need to be given the third dose.