LUCKNOW: Government hospitals rolled out the red carpet for children between 12 and 14 years of age as they administered the first dose of Corbevax Covid-19 vaccine to over 1,400 beneficiaries in Lucknow on Wednesday.
At SPM Civil hospital, refreshments and balloons greeted the children, but Sarojininagar community healthcare centre, Balrampur hospital and Avanti Bai women’s hospital, initially wore a deserted look.
The drive at these hospitals picked up pace only in the afternoon with a few children turning up.
At BRD hospital in Mahanagar, officials said they would start vaccination only when 10 children are there to prevent wastage. Low numbers were reported at KGMU and Dr RML Institute of Medical Sciences also.
Jhalkari Bai hospital and Indiranagar CHC could not get functional on the first day so many returned without a jab. Officials said the numbers were low at a few vaccine centres because of examination season and Holi. “A total of 1,474 kids in the 12 to 14 age group were vaccinated on the first day.
The drive will get streamlined after Holi,” said district immunisation officer Dr MK Singh.
Earlier, CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the drive in the presence of a large group of children brought to the centre by schools. Soumya Kumari (13), a student from Bal Nikunj Girls Academy said, “I was a little worried but after meeting CM, I took my first dose without any hesitation. It is yet to sink in that the CM shook hands with me and gave me chocolates,” she added.
Abhay Verma (15) said, “I also met the CM. He blessed me when I told him that I wanted to be a civil servant.”
(With inputs from Himanshu Singh, Godhooli Sharma, Vertika Sonakia, Ayushi Mishra)
