Assam Class X, XII students to be jabbed before March board exams – Times of India

An order issued by the state education department stated that the process of vaccination of students in the age group 15 to 18 years, will be completed by the first week of March, 2022.

Pegu was hopeful that the board examinees could be inoculated with both doses before their exams start. “Since children’s vaccination is going to start from January 3, the examinees will be able to get both doses before the exams begin,” said Pegu. Covaxin will be administered to them and the second shot will be due after 28 to 42 days. He said that students from 10 to 15 schools will be vaccinated every day once the vaccination is rolled out. In smaller districts, the vaccination will be carried out in around 10 schools daily, whereas in bigger districts, students of 15 to 20 schools will get jabbed.

He informed that the board examinees will be vaccinated with priority. Simultaneously, an awareness campaign will be launched to vaccinate the guardians with both the doses. “The state board exams are likely to start from mid-March and will conclude by the first week of April. The required preparations have been completed,” Pegu told mediapersons.

Assam had set an estimated target of vaccinating around 18.25 lakh children. However, the actual numbers may cross 20 lakh, including the floating population and the dropouts.

In an order issued by the state education department, the additional deputy commissioners (in-charge of education) in respective districts will supervise the drive in coordination with the inspector of schools of respective districts. The inspector of schools has been directed to ensure that the students of private schools and venture schools are covered during the drive.

“The schools should make arrangements for two rooms separately for girls and boys for the vaccination. Two waiting/resting rooms may also be arranged inside the school campus for the vaccinated girl and boy students,” read the order issued by principal secretary (education), B Kalyan Chakravarthy.

It added that the inspector of schools will also collect the list of junior colleges, polytechnics and technical institutions in their respective districts and co-ordinate with the head of these institutions for making arrangements for the vaccination centres. “The director of technical education, Assam, and director of secondary education shall extend necessary support in this regard,” read the order.