Over 70% students in 4 districts vaccinated
The Hindu
Over 2.26 lakh eligible students in these districts have received the first dose
More than 70% of eligible students in the 15-17 age group in Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Ranipet and Tirupattur districts have taken their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine as on Saturday 7 p.m. With this, 2,26,009 eligible students in the four districts have been given first dose of the vaccine.
Of the four districts, Tiruvannmalai district topped with 90,076 students, including 30,876 from Cheyyar health block, taking the first dose since Monday accounting for 87% coverage. At present, Tiruvannamalai has 1,600 schools, including 545 high and higher secondary schools, with 1.27 lakh students in Class IX to XII. Of these, 1,13,800, including 56,996 girls, are eligible for the vaccination. About 95% of the 11,857 teachers handling Classes IX to XII have been vaccinated. A help desk with helpline numbers (04175-250814; 04175-253845) has been set up at the Tiruvannamalai Collectorate for the public to report any negligence by the school authorities. Tiruvannamalai Collector B. Murugesh visited some of the schools on Saturday.
In Ranipet district, there are 45,755 students, including 23,114 girls, from Classes X to XII, studying in 230 schools with Arakkonam taluk having the highest number of students, 7423, in the 15-17 age group, eligible for vaccination. Ranipet Collector D. Bhasakara Pandian told The Hindu that more than 70% of students had been covered so far. “Rest of the students will be vaccinated in the next few days. Motivational sessions are also held before students are allowed to take the jab,” he said.