SHILLONG, Feb 13: The Education department has written to the heads of educational institutions to depute a teacher each to a training programme on COVID-19 vaccination for students aged 15-17 years.
Official sources on Sunday said the teachers attending the training will be responsible for counseling parents and students on vaccination. The training will be held soon.
The Education department felt the need to conduct the training as not many students in the 15-17 years age group have been vaccinated.
At a recent meeting with the district task force for COVID-19, the heads of the educational institutes had stressed on holding consultations with the parents for the vaccination of children. They said the consultations will be of paramount importance as they cannot force the students to take the jabs.
Jail Road Boys’ Higher Secondary School Principal, Jibananda Pal said he had suggested counseling on vaccination for students in the presence of health experts.
Loreto Convent Principal, Mercia D’souza said she is encouraging the students to get vaccinated.
She said many of her students have already taken the first jab, adding the Health department will hold another vaccination session once the schools reopen.
“Many of the parents have informed that they have already got their children vaccinated. Earlier, the Health department carried out one vaccination drive in the school where 17 students received their first dose,” she said. Laitumkhrah Presbyterian Higher Secondary School Principal, GM Nongkhlaw said only a few of its students have received the first dose.
“Only around 30-40% of the students took their first jab during a vaccination session held in the school. We had conducted online counseling for students and parents,” Nongkhlaw said.
