COVID-19 Vaccination for 12-14 age group Likely to start from March: NTAGI chief

COVID-19 Vaccination for Children: With COVID-19 cases rising at a rapid pace causing school closures across the country, the Union Government has decided to take some proactive steps in safeguarding students against the infection. To this end, the Union Government is expected to extend the on-going Children’s COVID-19 Vaccination Drive to cover 12 to 14 year age group from March onwards. The development about possibility of COVID-19 vaccination to be extended to 12 to 14 year olds was shared by NTAGI Cheif Dr NK Arora.

NTAGI Chariman Confirms COVID-19 Vaccination for Children

According to a statement issued by Chairman of India's COVID-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), Dr NK Arora, 12-14 age group covid vaccination is expected to be rolled out as soon as start of March 2022. In a statement issued to media, NTAGI Chief said "We want to start vaccinating children between 12 and 14 years from February-end or early March.” During the interaction, he also shared that, there is an estimated 7.5 crore population in the 12-14 age group, who would be eligible to receive the first dose of Covaxin starting in March 2022.

Vaccination of 15 to 18 Year Olds to be Completed by Feb-end

Currently, as part of the COVID-19 Vaccination for Children, only students falling between 15 to 18 years of age are eligible to get COVID-19 vaccine. Sharing update about on-going vaccination drive for 15 to 18 year olds, Dr Arora added that that “Of the estimated 7.4 crore (7,40,57,000) population in the 15-18 age bracket, over 3.45 crore have received the first dose of Covaxin so far and their second dose is due in 28 days.” Following the completion of the vaccination of 15 to 18 year old children, the vaccination drive is expected to be extended for children of 12 to 14 year old students.

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