Pune: The civic body managed to vaccinate only 44 girls in the last five days under the central govt’sfree HPV national immunisation drive, citing vaccine hesitancy and the ongoing exam season as the reason for the low turnout — despite multiple awareness programmes.PMC zone I covers Yerawada-Kalas-DhanoriandNagar Road-Wadgaon Sheriareas and saw five girls get vaccinated. Three girls were vaccinated in zone II covering Shivajinagar-Shole Road, Aundh-Baner and Kothrud-Bavdhan. The highest number of girls at 15 were inoculated in zone III comprising Dhankawadi-Sahakarnagar,Warje-Karvenagar and Sinhgad Road ward office. Seven girls came ahead in zone IV covering Hadapsar-Mundhwa,Wanowrie-Ramtekdi and Kondhwa-Yewalewadi, zone V including areas of Bhavani Peth, Bibvewadi and Kasba-Vishrambaug wada saw 14 girls get vaccinated.Medical officer at Kothrud-Bavdhan ward office Dr Anjali Tilekar said, “Messages circulating on social media apps have spread incorrect information about the vaccine, which is not new and has been in the market for the last 15 years. It has been used by private hospitals. Additionally, while parents are scared due to the false information, many are waiting for exams to get over to vaccinate their kids. We are reaching out to schools and explaining the same to the girls. We are waiting for parent-teacher meetings to talk to parents whose consent is required.”Meanwhile, health staff are trained to register girls at the site. Dighe said, “It is a 90-day campaign and we are hopeful of a positive turnout once the exams are over.”
