Srinagar, Dec 30: In order to prevent third wave of COVID from spreading and stop the new variant Omicron to enter Kashmir, coaching centers have decided to go for mass vaccination of students enrolled in various coaching institutes of Srinagar.
The decision was taken in a meeting jointly organised by coaching centers association and Private schools association JK under the chairmanship of Chief Medical Officer Srinagar Dr Jameel and was also attended by all the zonal medical officers of Srinagar district. On this occasion, representatives of all the reputed coaching centers of Srinagar district were present.
It was decided in the meeting that a mass vaccination drive will be launched in the first week of January in order to cover all the children falling in the age group of 15 to 18 years and achieve the target of 100 percent vaccination in the UT.
Chief Medical Officer Srinagar Dr Jameel urged the representatives of coaching centers to co-operate with the medical teams so that no child is left out.
CMO said that it is a joint responsibility of health department, Education department and coaching institutes to stop the pandemic from taking any ugly shape.
He said that third wave of COVID can be stopped from entering the UT only if we achieve the target of full vaccination. He said that it is now a proven fact that vaccination reduces chances of death in COVID patients and minimizes infection rate to a larger extent.
He requested the tuition centre owners and teachers to help in mass awareness regarding compulsory vaccination of children.
Representatives of private tuition centers and president private Schools association, G. N. Var assured the CMO of every support from the private sector in getting children vaccinated t an earliest.
Var said that students have suffered a lot during last two years being out of schools and now it is extremely essential that schools are re-opened after winter vacation in normal mode.
He said that we can not afford a generational loss of academic excellence and vaccination can be beneficial for normal schooling after vacations.
Pertinent to mention that Government has started vaccination of children of age group 15 to 18 years in the UT and Srinagar district has decided to start the mass vaccination drive in near future. (GNS)
