Shri Dharampal, Adviser to Administrator UT reviewed the status of COVID vaccination with the Secretary Health of UT Administration. During the review, the Adviser to Administrator observed that:
1. As per directions of the Central Government of India, the COVID vaccination for children in the age group of 15 years to 18 years was started from 3rd January, 2022 and for the children in the age group of 12 years to 14 years, was started with effect from 16.03.2022.
2. The Health Department in association with the Education Department, Chandigarh Administration is continuously arranging special camps in the schools in addition to vaccination going on at the health facilities. Special vaccination camps are being held even on Saturdays and Sundays. But despite all these efforts the status of vaccination is as under:
a) 92 % children in the age group of 15 years to 18 years have taken first dose and out of these, 54% have taken their second dose also.
b) Only 37% children in the age group of 12 years to 14 years have taken first dose and out of these, 3% have taken their second dose also.
3. More than more than 40,000 children in the age group of 12 years to 18 years are yet to be vaccinated for COVID with the first dose
4. During last week, there is an increasing trend in the COVID positive cases in the UT Chandigarh. The daily average of 01 or 02 cases has now reached to 8 or 9 cases per day.
After detailed review of the COVID vaccination status and the increasing trend of the COVID positive cases, Shri Dharampal, Adviser to Administrator UT has decided that to protect the unvaccinated children, the Education Department to restrict the unvaccinated students in the age group of 12 years to 18 years from attending the classes in physical mode w.e.f. 04.05.2022.
