The average COVID vaccination coverage of children in the state is 45 per cent, but many districts with high positivity rates are still lagging behind. In fact, the gradual spread of the COVID virus in rural areas is a matter of concern for the public health authorities as far as children who have not been vaccinated are concerned.
In Maharashtra, out of 60.63 lakh children aged 15-18 years, 28.26 lakh children have taken the first dose. But 44 per cent vaccination was done in seven districts- Ahmednagar (1.51 lakh), Kolhapur (1.31 lakh), Mumbai (1.79 lakh), Nashik (1.52 lakh), Pune (2.64 lakh), Thane (2.39 lakh) and Nagpur (1.26 lakh).
Rural districts are lagging behind because of vaccine resistance and lack of adequate staff to accelerate vaccination among children. Chandrapur has the lowest vaccine coverage, with only 24 per cent of eligible children being vaccinated. In Nandurbar, only 33 per cent children have been vaccinated while in Amravati only 42 per cent children have taken the first shot.
With the reopening of schools for all classes in line with the COVID protocol, non-vaccinated children have become the main concern of public health officials. “We have directed all districts to expedite vaccination among children.
State monitoring officer Dr Pradeep Awte said, some districts are also organizing camps in villages to tackle hesitation in vaccinating children.
Data from the Department of Public Health shows that between January 1-20, a total of 18,798 children aged 0-10 years have been infected with Kovid and the infection rate has increased by 8.8 percent.
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