The state government should prioritise vaccination for students and teaching fraternity and consider reopening of schools and colleges in a staggered manner, suggested the technical advisory committee formed by the government to contain a possible third wave of COVID-19 pandemic.
The panel headed by noted cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Devi Shetty, in its interim report submitted to the government on Tuesday has recommended vaccinating the students who are 18 years and above on priority to facilitate reopening of the educational institutes in a graded manner, starting with the senior level.
"We will reopen the higher education institutions after vaccinating the students and teachers on priority," said Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa.
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Health minister Dr K. Sudhakar clarified that the school students cannot be vaccinated before the clinical trial of the vaccines on children are completed and the vaccine is approved for paediatric use by the government.
The panel has advised the government to ramp up the paediatric care units with adequate number of high dependency units and children's intensive care units in every taluk and district hospital, setting up of children's wings in hospitals and COVID-19 care centres and resolution of oxygen shortages.
The committee has recommended setting up of psychiatric counselling to boost the morale of children suffering from COVID-19, besides tracking post COVID complications among children even after discharge.
Stating the scarcity of specialised doctors and trained healthcare workers could be a major hindrance to battle a possible third wave, the experts have called for pooling of human resources and financial resources by roping in corporates, voluntary organisations and medical associations. The burden of malnourishment among children especially in the rural areas and urban slums is huge and needs to be curtailed with effective measures, experts said.
