91000 children to be given vax in Darj dist

SNS, SILIGURI, 30 DECEMBER 21 : Around 91,000 children aged between 15 and 18 in Darjeeling district are eligible for Covid vaccine, a drive for which is slated to begin on 3 January. The state government is considering vaccinating children at their schools.

According to the guidelines released by the Union health ministry children whose birth year is 2007 or earlier will be eligible for the jab.

Sources at the health department said that an estimated 91,000 children in the entire district will be vaccinated in 227 high schools. The children in the age group will he given the Covaxin shots, it is learnt.

"The calculation has been based on the projected population. Vaccination camps will be oragnised in the schools.

We have so far enough stock of Covaxin," said a senior health department official.

Meanwhile, health workers are carrying out house to house surveys to list people aged 60 years or above and those with comorbidities for the third Covid-19 vaccine dose that will be given from 10 January.

According to the Darjeeling district magistrate, S Ponnambalam, they were all ready for the vaccination and will implement the government guidelines as they are issued.

Health department officials said they had focused on full vaccination of their eligible populations.

The commissioner of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation, Sonam Wangdi Bhutia, said they were taking necessary steps to ensure that the drive kicks off smoothly.