Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed the Covid vaccination for children in the age group of 12 to 13 and 13 to 14 would start from March 16.
New Delhi: After due deliberations with scientific bodies, the central government and the Union Health Ministry have decided to start COVID-19 vaccination for 12 to 13 years and 13 to 14 years age groups from March 16. It will be for those born in 2008, 2009 and 2010, already above 12 years of age.
The COVID-19 vaccine to be administered would be Corbevax manufactured by Biological Evans, Hyderabad, an official source said.
It is to be noted that the population above 14 years of age is already being administered the COVID-19 vaccine under the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination programme.
The government has also decided that the condition of co-morbidity for COVID-19 Precaution Dose for population over 60 years of age will be removed forthwith. Hence, from March 16 onwards, the entire population above 60 years of age will be eligible for the Precaution Dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in a tweet that if the children are safe, then the country is safe. Expressing happiness, the Minister informed that the Covid vaccination for children in the age group of 12 to 13 and 13 to 14 would start from March 16. He said everyone aged 60 plus will now be able to get precaution doses.
Official sources say 180 crore population has been vaccinated at least one, fully vaccinated is population 81.2 Crore and percentage of the population fully vaccinated is 58.8 per cent.
The nationwide vaccine drive is billed as the world's largest vaccination drive in the new century, albeit post the pandemic, so far. India's vaccination drive is also marked by large scale export and global assistance provided by India to countries across the globe.
But at home, there were reports of the Congress party abusing vaccines, including dumping them in Rajasthan. In some states, they allegedly focused on profit-making. Vaccination hesitation was also encouraged by the likes of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.
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