48% parents unwilling to send kids to school till they are vaccinated against Covid-19: Survey

Several states including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh partially reopened schools earlier this month amid a downfall in their daily cases of the viral disease.

A recent survey conducted in India with more than 32,000 parents across 361 districts showed that 48% of the parents were not willing to send their children to school till they are vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), news agency PTI reported on Wednesday. Of these 32,000 parents, 47% were from tier 1 districts, 27% from tier 2 districts and 26% were from tier 3, 4 and rural districts.

Only 21% of the respondents agreed to send their children to schools whenever they reopened. (Sushil Kumar/HT file photo)

Several states including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh partially reopened schools earlier this month amid a downfall in their daily cases of the viral disease. On the other hand, states such as Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh are in the process of reopening their schools from August.

“Vaccinating children in the coming months is going to be key if children are to go to schools for physical classes. Forty-eight per cent of the surveyed parents said they are not willing to send their children to schools till they are vaccinated,” the survey conducted by an online platform, Local Circles, said.

It pointed out that only 21% of the respondents agreed to send their children to schools whenever they reopened. While 30% said they will send their wards to schools if Covid-19 cases come down to zero in their districts, the survey by Local Circles further showed.

Schools across India were shut in March 2020 when the Centre announced a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the viral disease. They were partially reopened in October in adherence with Covid-appropriate behaviour but were again closed in April this year as the country witnessed a highly infectious second wave of the pandemic.

India has so far recorded 31,484,605 cases, 422,022 deaths and 30,663,147 recoveries due to the coronavirus disease till now. On Wednesday, the country saw 43,654 new cases and 640 more deaths. Even though the daily cases haven’t spiked since the peak of May 7, India continues to stare at an upcoming third wave of the pandemic, which is likely to affect children most.

In a major development on Tuesday, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced that the Centre is likely to begin administering vaccines to children from next month.

“In BJP Parliamentary Party meeting today, Union Health Min Mansukh Mandaviya said that the government would likely start vaccinating children next month for Covid-19,” sources told news agency ANI on Tuesday.

(With inputs from agencies)