Children born in 2007 or earlier are eligible to be vaccinated. (File)
New Delhi:
Vaccination is open to teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18 as of today amid an increase in Covid cases in many cities. 7,650,000 teenagers have signed up to the government’s CoWin portal and will all receive a dose of Covaxin.
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Immunization programs – carried out in consultation with schools – are being held in hospitals and health centres.
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A large number of schools and other educational institutions are also being used as vaccination centers.
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People born in 2007 or earlier are eligible to be vaccinated.
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The Union Health Department said only Covaxin would be used in adolescents and additional doses of the vaccine would be sent to all states and Union Territories.
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On December 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that vaccination for the 15-18 age group would start from January 3.
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The third dose of the vaccine for healthcare workers, frontline workers and vulnerable elderly people will begin January 10.
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The government announcement of the increased risk of cases of Omicron, a highly infectious variant sweeping Europe and the US, displacing Delta as the mainstream.
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Since schools and colleges opened earlier this year, a significant proportion of children and young people have contracted the virus. Several outbreaks have been reported from residential schools and college dormitories.
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The government has yet to make a decision on a booster dose for everyone.
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Two new vaccines – Corbevax and Covovax – have been cleared and can be used as booster doses. The sources said the new vaccine could also be considered for use in children.
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