All high school, higher secondary school students of state to be vaccinated this month

Raipur:Action plan is being chalked out for a special vaccination session in schools across the state.

The CMHOs, DPI Commissioners and DEOs has been directed to execute the action plan.

Chhattisgarh government has decided to organise special vaccination sessions in high schools and higher secondary schools of the state from January 5 and set a target of completing first dose vaccination of students between age group of 15 and 18 by end of this month. 

The health department has asked all the Commissioners of Public Instructions and District Education Officers (DEOs) to hold meetings with the schools and the parents and prepare action plan accordingly to ensure vaccination of all the children is done in this month. 

School Education and Health Department Principal Secretary Dr Alok Shukla has issued circular to the Chief Medical and Health Officers (CMHOs) and District Education Officers (DEOs) and issued necessary guidelines for the successful implementation of the vaccination programme.

It is to be mentioned, Government of India has given green signal to the vaccination of children between age group of 15 and 18 with Covaccine with effect from January 3. As per guidelines, the vaccination officers and district education officers of all the districts should hold meetings with immediate effect and prepare a complete programme for it.

The action plan for the vaccination should be prepared in such a way that the first dose in all high schools and higher secondary schools is completed this month. The department has asked the district vaccination officers to form adequate number of vaccination teams. All the districts have been asked to send the vaccination calendar in their respective districts to the Commissioner, Public Instructions and Mission Director, National Health Mission by January 5.

The Principal Secretary of the Health Department asked the schools to hold special meetings with the parents regarding the special session of Covidvaccination in both private and government schools and asked them to inform about the vaccination. 

He has also directed to urge the parents to be present at the time of vaccination of children. After registration, children will be vaccinated with Covaccine by the vaccination team.

The Health Department has also given instructions to monitor children getting vaccines vaccination. After vaccination, children will be kept in the school for at least 30 minutes so that they can be monitored for any adverse effects of the vaccine (AEFI – Adverse Effects Following Immunization). In case of AEFI, arrangements will be made in advance to take the child to the nearest hospital immediately. If a child has an AEFI, he or she will be immediately taken to the hospital and given medical attention. The entire campaign will be jointly monitored by the Commissioner, Public Instruction and Mission Director, National Health Mission.