TURA/SHILLONG/NONGSTOIN, Jan 4: Only 40 teenagers in the age group of 15-18 years took the vaccination against COVID in Tura during the launch of the vaccination drive, on Monday. The figure was registered at Matchakolgre school in Tura.
“It was just the kick-off and the numbers will rise as more camps have been opened up not just in our district but entire Garo Hills from Tuesday,” says West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh.
The Health department of the state held a high-level meeting with the Education department officials in Shillong on Tuesday to raise the vaccination figures and prevent another wave of the disease hitting the state.
“Our meeting with the Education department was to discuss the vaccination process and ensure children are protected since the new variant Omicron is very quickly spreading. We have instructed schools to ensure children get vaccinated,” reveals Principal Secretary, Health, P Sampath Kumar, while speaking to The Shillong Times on Tuesday evening.
According to Sampath Kumar, the overall figure of teens who received the COVID vaccine on the first day had crossed the one thousand mark. In Tura, 11 vaccination centres are open from Wednesday till Saturday where individuals in the age group of 15 to 18 years can either walk in or book a slot online.
Mawlai, Mylliem camps
The office of the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner will organise mega camps in the polling stations of Mawlai and Mylliem assembly constituencies on January 7 and 8 during which COVID-19 vaccination for people in the age group of 15 years and above, registration of unorganised workers for e¬SHRAM, Aadhaar enrolment and Aadhaar seeding for ration card holders will be held.
A statement in this regard also appealed to one and all to get inoculated against COVID-19, especially in the wake of the nationwide spread of Omicron variant of coronavirus.
Drive takes off in WKH
The District Medical and Health Office (DMHO) of West Khasi Hills kicked off the COVID-19 vaccination drive for 15-18 year olds in a programme held at Conference Hall DMHO office, Nongstoin on Tuesday.
The programme was launched and chaired by DMHO, WKH Dr SA Lyngdoh who talked about the importance and benefits of vaccine after approval for the age group of 15-18 years in presence of the District Immunization Officer (DIO) Dr R Laloo.
In the programme, the DIO called upon all the eligible beneficiaries of the district to get vaccinated at their nearest COVID vaccination centres, CHC, PHCs, sub-centres in order to boost the immune system of the body and fight and contain the virus in the district.
To mark the launch of the programme, vaccine doses were administered to the beneficiaries who registered on the day at the venue.