Centre issues guidelines of COVID vaccination for Children between 15 to 18 years.
COVID-19 vaccination of children in the age group of 15 to 18 years will begin from the 3rd of January, 2022. For these beneficiaries, the option of vaccination will be only Covaxin. Union Health Ministry on Monday issued guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination of children and precaution dose to Health Care Workers, Front Line Workers and for citizens above 60 years with comorbidities.
The Ministry said, all those aged 15 years or more will be able to register on CoWIN from the 1st of January. The guidelines said beneficiaries can self-register online through an existing account on CoWIN or can also register by creating a new account through a unique mobile number. The appointment for vaccination can be booked online or walk-in.
Earlier, in his address to the nation on the 25th of December, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 15-18 years will start from the 3rd of January. He also announced precaution dose to Health Care Workers, Front Line Workers and for citizens above 60 years with comorbidities from 10th of January.
The guidelines said Health Care Workers and Front Line Workers who have already received two doses, another dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will be provided from the 10th of January next year. The prioritization and sequencing of this precaution dose will be based on the completion of nine months or 39 weeks from the date of administration of 2nd dose.
The guidelines said, all persons aged 60 years and above with comorbidities who have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, will be provided precautionary dose on the Doctor’s advice from the 10th of January. All citizens irrespective of their income status are entitled to free COVID-19 vaccination at Government Vaccination Centres.
Those who have the ability to pay are encouraged to use Private Hospitals’ Vaccination Centres. The beneficiaries will be able to access the vaccination for precaution dose through their existing CoWIN account. CoWIN system will send SMS to such beneficiaries for availing the precaution dose when the dose becomes due. The Ministry said these guidelines will come into effect from the 3rd of January next year.
