Mumbai As Covid cases are on the rise and schools and colleges are set to reopen, there are more enquiries at the vaccination centres by parents of the 12-17 age group.
Doctors on Tuesday said that with low caseload a month back, parents were hesitant to get their children vaccinated. However, the situation is beginning to change with the steady rise in cases. Mumbai is estimated to have a population of 10 lakh under the 12-17 age group.
The Covid vaccine programme for adolescents (15-17 years) was rolled out in January and for 12-15 years on March 18. Till June 6, 1,14,064 in the age group of 12-15 and 3,86,286 in the age group 15-17 have taken their first shot in Mumbai. Around 48,301 in the 12-15 age group and 2,86,980 in the 15-17 age group have taken their second shot.
Dr Vijay Yewale, paediatrician and state paediatric task force member, said that parents are more receptive after Covid cases have risen. “It appears that there is a change in perception towards getting children vaccinated. We are getting more enquiries from parents on vaccination,” he said.
Dr Rajesh Dere, dean, BMC’s BKC Jumbo Covid Centre, said that they have seen a 25% rise in people coming for vaccination including the paediatric population. “We have seen a dip in the number of people coming for booster doses and paediatric population for Covid vaccine. However, the number of people coming to our centre to get the vaccine has gone up in the last three days. This can be attributed to the fear of increasing infections,” he said.
Mahi Ranawat, mother of a class 9 girl, ensured she takes her daughter to get the first shot on June 6 before schools begin on June 9. “Because of exams followed by vacation, we delayed getting her the vaccine. Since Covid has been mild for children and there were hardly any cases, we decided to wait and watch. Now that the cases are rising, we thought we will get her vaccinated before the school re-opens and she gets busy with academics,” she said.
Many parents like Mahi have been following the wait-and-watch process. “Luckily, our daughter has taken both the doses. When we went to school to submit fees, every second parent was discussing vaccinating their children. They were seeking advice from parents like us who have already vaccinated their children,” said Sneha Pawar, resident of Malad, whose 14-year-old daughter studies in a well-known suburban school.
Meanwhile, Mumbai paediatricians said they are witnessing Covid cases among children, especially among the population that’s eligible for vaccination. Symptoms include high fever and cold lasting for 1-2 days.
Dr Yewale, also an ex-Mumbai president of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP), said he has seen Covid cases in children, but all are milder. “They come with fever and little throat irritation lasting for a day or two. Most of these children are from the eligible vaccination population who are not vaccinated,” said Dr Yewale.
Dr. Bhupendra Avasthi, paediatrician and director of Surya Child Care, said, “If an adult gets it, children too will get it.”