BHOPAL: After the approval of emergency vaccination for children aged 12 years and above, schools in Bhopal have come forward to vaccinate their students on campus. Schools said they are in a better position to ensure complete vaccination of the children like they did it for the teachers.
Zydus Cadila’s vaccine, Zy-CoV-D, has received approval for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for ZyCoV-D.
Campus openings after the second lockdown have been a major bone of contention between schools and the state government. Schools have decided to launch a state-wide protest campaign from August 25 unless the state government opened up campuses. On the other hand, parents have been skeptical in sending their children to school citing that they were not vaccinated.
As the vaccine for 12 years and above has been approved, school associations in the state capital said that they can play a key role in ensuring that the children are vaccinated.
“Like government is providing free vaccination for the citizens, the same could be done in every school. As every school has proper data of their students. Like we did with the teachers, the same could be done with the students also. We can ensure vaccination of every student who is of 12 years and above,” said Vinny Raj Modi, vice president, Madhya Pradesh association of unaided private schools.
Schools added that it will also help in completing the vaccination drive early. “The government can provide logistics. However, as far as the data of the students is concerned it is the school only who has proper data. Even schools can ensure that their students are fully vaccinated,” said Modi.
Parents are relieved that there is hope of getting their childfren vaccinated. They also feel that vaccination in schools will ensure the safety of students. “Nothing could be better than this if schools come forward. As a parent my concern was the safety of my children. Every school ensures vaccination of their students on the campus,” said Nishid Tiwari, father of a class 8 student.
