Excited and feeling hopeful about returning to normal, some 1,600 students between the age group of 12-17 years in Samtse received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine today. Recognizing the relatively higher risk of the virus in the southern areas, the health ministry yesterday announced to initiate the vaccination of children in Phuentshogling and Samtse.
For now, given the limited stock of the Pfizer vaccine in the country, it is unlikely that all children between the age group of 12 to 17 years will receive the vaccine in the district. However, the Samtse District COVID-19 Task Force has identified about 1,600 eligible students from four high-risk areas for the current phase of vaccination.
Students of Samtse Higher and Lower Secondary schools, Gomtu Higher secondary school and Phuentshogpelri Primary School received the vaccine.
“All schools in Samtse District have risk associated with the virus but we have selected four schools for now because they are at more risk as compared to others. We have only received about 1,600 doses of the Pfizer vaccine today. Moreover, the schools we have selected are located where there is a large population and where the exports and imports are happening constantly,” said Pasang Dorji, the Incident Commander of the COVID-19 Task Force in Samtse.
With the ongoing second nationwide vaccination programme and the gradual vaccination of children as well, students now hope it will speed up a return to normalcy where the learning process will not be hampered anymore.
“I am happy to receive the vaccination today. Now, we hope that our studies will not be hampered like before and we will be able to study well,” said Ugyen Choden, a student in Samtse HSS.
“As we get our vaccine today, I am very excited. I also hope that it would help us to reopen our schools and hope we can finish our exams on time as well. Likewise, I hope our further studies will not be hampered as it got in the last few years,” added Karosh Thakuri, also a student from the school.
Based on the recommendations of the health ministry, the vaccine is only provided to those students who have attained 12 years of age as of today.
Samtse Dzongkhag has more than 30 schools with a student population of over 14,400. The District COVID-19 Task Force plans to initiate similar programmes for the rest of the students based on the risk assessment as and when they receive the vaccine.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Sonam
