Covid-19 vaccination in Delhi: Good jab by government schools, private institutes lagging

NEW DELHI: The schools run by Delhi government are way ahead of the private schools in vaccinating their students aged 15-17, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia announced on Saturday.
Around 85% of eligible students in government schools have been administered the Covid vaccine against 42% in private schools.
“The Directorate of Education has targeted 100% vaccination by January 30, and this now appears within reach,” said Sisodia.
“Vaccination is the most effective way to remain safe from Covid and it is important that all eligible students get vaccinated at the earliest.In 12 of the 15 education districts, 85% students of Delhi government schools have been vaccinated. In around 300 schools, 90% of the eligible students have got the jab.”
A total of 8,07,738 government school students are eligible for vaccination of whom 6,80,210 are now vaccinated.
Sisodia credited the teachers for the brisk rate at which the students had been vaccinated. After designating over 150 vaccination sites in schools, Delhi government also deployed a nodal official in each school. The 20 student health clinics started in government schools were also turned into vaccination centres.
“100% vaccination of students will help us shift from online education to in-person classes. Now that Covid cases are declining and most students in the higher classes have been inoculated, we will propose to Delhi Disaster Management Authority the reopening of schools,” added Sisodia.
Expressing concern at the slow rate of vaccination of private school students, the deputy CM said only 42% had been inoculated till January 21. “Except in east Delhi, private schools have failed to achieve even 50% vaccination coverage,” said Sisodia. “The private schools have 3.5 lakh eligible students, but not even two lakh have received the shot. Aided schools too haven't fared well, with only 57% of their students receiving the jab.”
Sudha Acharya, principal, ITL Public School, Dwarka, and chairperson, National Progressive Schools Conference, agreed that private school principals needed to be proactive and address the concerns of parents. “There is hesitancy among parents and a lot of concern,” revealed Acharya. “Some say they want to wait till the children turn 18 years. They also worry that Covaxin might not be accepted abroad if children have to study overseas. In my school I held webinars with doctors to answer parents' queries. The school prefects to worked to raise awareness among their peers.”
Himanshu Gupta, director, DoE, has instructed the district deputy education officers to contact the heads of aided and private schools personally to acquire accurate data on the vaccination.