Published On : Tue, Dec 28th, 2021

NMC finalizes plan to vaccinate kids in 15-18 age group

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Nagpur: Amid the rising Covid cases and looming Omicron threat, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Monday has finalized a tentative plan on undertaking vaccination for 15-18-years age group children whose number in the city is estimated to be around one lakh. The civic body has also planned to start micro or major containment zones.

The move on containment zones is being mulled after the civic authorities were informed about a high number of Omicron suspects being reported from Hanuman Nagar zone. The issues were discussed during a Covid review meeting held on Monday. At the meeting the Municipal Commissioner Radhakrishnan B instructed civic officials to map out the new drive keeping in mind the schedule of children, as they must be in SSC and HSC classes. With the Board exams due in March, most of the students might be busy with their studies in tuition classes and at schools. The Municipal Commissioner asked the civic authorities to get in touch with directors of tuition classes and co-ordinate arrangement of vaccination camps at their premises so that students can be covered quite fast.

Camps can also be held in schools and junior colleges and the Health Department should reach out to institutions and finalize dates so that messages can be relayed to students for the vaccination. Similarly the list of front-line health workers and Doctors should be updated so that the preventive shots can be released for them.

At the meeting, the civic officials also took stock of the Omicron variant prevalence and current positivity rate of Covid-19 in the city. The Municipal Commissioner said all passengers arriving from abroad have to compulsorily undergo RTPCR test and no one should be excluded from the same. The decision was taken as a large number of travellers returning via Air Arabia flight are testing positive for the virus. Those refusing to get tested would be hauled up under the Epidemic Diseases Act. The current number of positive patients stands at 91 and NMC had already made it clear that in case the number reaches 100 stringent measures would be taken.

While NMC has made institutional quarantine arrangements at MLA Hostel, those wanting private accommodation can check-in at Hotel Al Zam Zam or Hotel Oriental at their own cost.

Compensation: As per the decision of the State Government, NMC received about 3,700 applications seeking compensation against death of family members to COVID-19. At the meeting, officials informed that the District Disaster Management Authority has sanctioned 1700 applications that have been approved.