National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) Chief has suggested that vaccination drive for children in 12-14 age groups might commence from March.
NK Arora, Chief NTAGI has said that children under age 15-17 will get fully vaccinated by March after which another drive will start. India has 7.4 crore population under age group 15-17 out of which 3.45 crore have received their first dose of vaccine (Covaxin). The second dose is due in 28 days.
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He said, “Adolescents in this age group have been actively participating in the inoculation process, and going by this pace of vaccination, the rest of the beneficiaries in the 15-17 age group are likely to be covered with the first dose by January-end and subsequently their second dose is expected to be done by February-end.”
Once population under age group 15-17 is covered government will make a policy for vaccination of children under 12-14 age groups. There are nearly 7.5 crore population that fall under this age group.
As per provisional vaccination reports 39 lakh doses have been given to people in 24 hours and a total of 157.2 crore vaccine doses have been given so far.
India has also started giving booster shots of vaccine to doctors, frontline workers and elderly population who have health co-morbidities. The vaccination drive for children will lower the impact of the infection. Children will be able to attend their schools without risk of falling severely ill. Government is currently taking all possible measures to control the spread of infection.
