COVID-19: Chandigarh directs school principals to inform students about vaccination options

NEW DELHI: Chandigarh administration has directed school principals of all government and private schools to inform students of age group 15 to 18 years about availability of options of vaccination against COVID-19. The administration warned that strict action would be taken against those who do not comply with the directions.

“All the Principals of Schools (Government and Private) in UT of Chandigarh are hereby directed to inform all students enrolled in their schools (in the age group of 15 to 18 years) about the available option of COVID vaccination. In case of non-compliance of these directions, appropriate action will be taken against them..” the official notification said.

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The notice comes after the administration observed that in some of the schools many students were not informed about the vaccination camps and the vaccination rate was quite low. “This has resulted in wastage of precious resources of the Health Department especially during the ongoing crisis,” the administration argued.

While the vaccination against COVID-19 is voluntary, it is their duty to inform each and every child about the vaccination camps and availability of vaccines, it added.

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The vaccination of children belonging to the age group of 15 to 18 years began on January 3, 2022 in the country including Chandigarh. Special vaccination camps have also been arranged in schools with the help of the education department.

Following the sudden spike in Covid-19 and Omicron cases in the state, the Punjab government on January 4, announced to close colleges and schools except for nursing and medical colleges. This comes as Patiala is turning out to be the worst-hit district in Punjab in terms of a rising number of coronavirus cases.