Thane civic body immunises 23,659 children

THANE: Approximately 23, 659 students received the measles rubella vaccination on the first day of the drive conducted by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). Vaccines were administered to students in 12 schools in Thane. Within Thane rural, which includes five talukas and two municipal corporations, 26,410 students from 42 schools received the vaccination on Tuesday. The civic body aims to vaccinate more than 5 lakh students.

There are 999 schools under the TMC’S jurisdiction. “Around 2,000 doctors participated on the first day of the drive. Most private schools had called parents to be with the children,” said R T Kendre, Medical Health Officer, TMC.

In addition to the 12 schools in the urban areas, vaccines were administered at Bhartiya Sainiki Vidyalaya in Khadavli within Kalyan taluka.

“We hope the drive will be completed within a month and a half. Doctors monitored the students for an hour after the vaccine and ensured they are healthy and fit,” said CEO of Thane zilla parishad, Vivek Bhimanwar.

Parents of private school students were asked to accompany students. Shailaja Kurup, whose seven-year-old studies in Sulochanadevi Singhania School, said, “I was sceptical initially as my child is always scared of injections ... But luckily he responded well.” She added that it was a good decision to ask the parents to accompany their children. Speaking about the preparation for this drive, education officer Urmila Pardhe said, “In September, meetings were conducted with schools to alert parents and teachers about the drive. The health department is supporting us and has planned it well.”