A special COVID-19 vaccination drive for children aged 15 to 18 was launched across Gujarat on Monday morning, with the state health department aiming to reach 36 lakh beneficiaries in one week. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the drive at a school in Gandhinagar’s Koba neighbourhood.
He arrived at the school in the morning, inspected the facility, and interacted with some of the beneficiary children.
The special week-long statewide drive aims to reach nearly 36 lakh beneficiaries aged 15 to 18. According to the state health department, a massive drive is planned for January 7 with a focus on Class 10 students.
The Gujarat Department of Health has announced that it will prepare approximately 3,500 centers throughout the state for special immunization campaigns and extend the daily timing of drives from the current 9 am to 6 pm.
A drive is underway at 13 schools near Gandhinagar’s border with the goal of reaching 5,000 children on the first day, according to a memo from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Vaccinations will be administered in schools and industrial training institutions (ITIs), according to the Ministry of Health, and authorities will ensure that children who are not in school are also secured.
Vaccination drives also cover facilities for the disabled, orphanages, and facilities for the care of mentally ill children.