Parents eager to get their teenagers vaccinated

Parents eager to get their teenagers vaccinated

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad: 28.12.2021

When Sonal Brahmbhatt heard that those between 15 and 18 years of age will be allowed to take vaccination from January, she breathed a sigh of relief. The Thaltej resident is now planning to get her son, a student of Class 12, vaccinated at the earliest.

“We had two Covid cases in the family during the second wave, and we know the importance of vaccination to protect ourself from the effects of the infection. But more importantly, it would be an opportunity for him to pursue activities apart from school that he attends offline,” she said, adding that her son’s social interaction has been limited due to his unvaccinated status. “With all the activities slowly resuming offline, his vaccination would bring us some peace.” As per the rules laid down by the Centre on Monday, registration for vaccination will start from January 1 and the vaccination drive will begin from January 3. The teenagers will have to get their Aadhaar card or Class 10 mark sheet as the proof of their age. The state health department officials said that schools would be primary focus for the vaccination drives.

City-based doctors said that it’s a step in the right direction. While many students attend coaching classes for Boards or entrance tests, some also participate in co-curricular activities at the school or elsewhere. “Vaccination will help them move without fear of getting infection even as the share of patients from this age group is relatively lower than the average Covid patients’ age,” said experts.