HYDERABAD: On a day, health authorities carried out a mega vaccine drive, hundreds of college students, who are getting ready to attend physical classes soon, are yet to get a single dose.
Students said that if they have to attend colleges from July 1, colleges should be asked to ensure that they get at least the first dose.
“I have tried to get the vaccine a couple of times, from the primary health care centre (PHC) and at a special camp organized in the city.
Both the times, after waiting for over 2 hours, I was asked to come back some other day citing vaccine shortage,” said Vinay V, a final year Electronics and Communications Engineering student.
He said that as examinations are scheduled to begin from July 5, colleges should organise special drives and ensure that at least final year students get vaccinated immediately.
In Telangana, while there about 15-20 lakh students studying in undergraduate and postgraduate courses, until now about 31 lakh people in the age group of 18-44 have got vaccinated.
Even now, there is not much clarity on when students will get access to the free vaccine as those aged between 18-30 are unable to book free vaccination slots through CoWIN.
Vaccination centres in the state seem to be following different rules as many are only administering the vaccine to the 45+ age group and others to those above ages of 30.
Students in various colleges and universities said that it would be better if special vaccination drives are held in colleges.
They said that most of the students are not yet vaccinated and added that not everyone is in a position to afford the paid vaccine.
A few centres, however, are administering the vaccine to 18+ age group.
“While I got my second dose, my cousin, who lives in the western corridor, went to two PHCs today, but did not get the vaccine as she was told that they are only administering it to those aged about 45,” A Srinidhi, a final year electrical engineering student said.
Student leaders said that the government should conduct exams only after students are administered at least their first dose.
“Colleges should be directed to conduct special drives at their campuses.
If not, at least all PHCs should be asked to give vaccination to students.
Only after students get their first dose, exams should be conducted,” said J Dileep of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
Faculty working at technical colleges also demanded the same.