Vaccine for young children between 12 to 14 years will start from tomorrow

COVID-19

Those between 12-14 years of age will be administered the Corbevax manufactured by the Hyderabad-based pharma giant Biological E Limited, govt had stated.

Vaccine for children between 12-14 years will start from 16 march

Registration for the coronavirus vaccination for children in the age group of 12-14 years will begin from Wednesday, i.e., March 16, as per Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. Previously adolescents in the age group of 15-17 years were included in the corona virus vaccination drive.

Those between 12-14 years of age will be administered the Corbevax manufactured by the Hyderabad-based pharma company Biological E Limited. Corbevax is a two-dose vaccine administered in an interval of 28 days.

Mandaviya tweeted, “If the children are safe then the country is safe! I am happy to inform that from March 16, COVID-19 vaccination of children in the age group of 12 to 13 and 13 to 14 is starting. Also, everyone aged 60+ will now be able to get precaution doses. I urge the families of children and people in the age group of 60+ that they must get the vaccine,” the minister tweeted.

As per government sources, approximately 7.11 crore children will be vaccinated under the new age group. Biological E has supplied 5 crore doses of Corbevax to the Centre and the vaccine has been distributed to states.

The Health Ministry said in a release that the government has decided to start COVID-19 vaccination for 12-13 year and 13-14 year age groups after due deliberations with scientific bodies.

“The Union government, after due deliberations with scientific bodies, has decided to start the COVID-19 vaccination for 12-13 year and 13-14 year age groups (those born in 2008, 2009 and 2010 i.e. those who are already above 12) on 16th March 2022,” the Union Health Ministry said in a release.

As per the latest Health Ministry release, "States were advised to ensure that only those who have attained the age of 12 years on the date of vaccination are vaccinated against COVID-19; if the beneficiary is registered but not attained the age of 12 years on the date of vaccination, COVID-19 vaccine is not to be given."

The release further added that vaccinators should be trained to ensure that there is no mixing of vaccines in this age bracket through dedicated vaccination sessions via earmarked COVID-19 vaccination centers for vaccination of 12-14 years' age group.