According to recent data from the Union Health Ministry, over 3 lakh children between the ages of 12 and 14 years have received their first dose of the Covid vaccine, taking the total number of doses administered in the country to over 180.80 crore. The vaccination drive for children in this age group commenced on Wednesday and uses Biological E’s intramuscular vaccine, Corbevax. Two doses of the vaccine will be administered to each child, with a gap of 28 days between them.
As of March 1, 2021, there were approximately 4.7 crore children aged 12 and 13 years in the country. With the rollout of the vaccine for this age group, the government hopes to protect these children from the potential risks associated with Covid-19.
The vaccination drive in India began on January 16, 2021, with healthcare workers receiving the first doses of the vaccine. The next phase of the drive involved frontline workers, who started receiving their doses from February 2, 2021. Subsequently, people aged 60 years and above, as well as those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions, were eligible to receive their doses from March 1, 2021.
The government later expanded the drive to include everyone aged over 18 years from May 1, 2021. In January 2022, adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years became eligible for vaccination, and precautionary doses of the vaccine were administered to healthcare workers, frontline workers, and those aged 60 years and above with comorbidities from January 10, 2022.
To date, over 2.15 crore precaution doses of the Covid vaccine have been administered to healthcare and frontline workers, as well as those aged above 60 years. The prioritization and sequencing of the doses would be based on the completion of nine months to 39 weeks from the date of administration of the second dose.
The expansion of the vaccination drive to include adolescents is a significant step forward in the government’s efforts to control the spread of the virus. As the vaccination drive continues to roll out across the country, it is hoped that it will help to protect the population and ultimately bring an end to the pandemic.
The Indian government has been proactive in its approach to combatting the pandemic, with the vaccination drive being a major part of its strategy. The availability of vaccines has played a crucial role in this effort, with the government working to ensure that there is an adequate supply of vaccines to meet the needs of the population.
As the vaccination drive continues, it is essential that people continue to follow Covid-appropriate behavior, such as wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and practicing good hand hygiene. By working together, we can help to control the spread of the virus and protect ourselves and our communities.
