Pune: The Covid Vaccination Program is set to start for the 12-14 age group from February-End, Dr.
N K Arora, Chair of the Covid-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group concerning Immunization to TOI on Sunday.
Teen vaccinations make impressive steps throughout the country.
As many as 3.31 crore children in the age group 15 to 17 have received their first dose, accounting for coverage of nearly 45%, only 13 days into the drive on January 3 this year.
“We aim to cover all 7.4 crore teenagers in the bracket aged 15-17 with the first dose in January-end so we can begin to vaccinate them with the second dose from the beginning of February and complete the second dose in February-end.
We want to start paying attention to children – Children between 12 and 14 years starting in February or early March, “Dr Arora said.
Children aged 12 to 17 are quite like adults, experts say.
“So, the decision was mainly taken to protect adolescents in the group 15-17 first.
After their full vaccination is carried out, the government will take policy decisions to include the next age group, which is a 12-14 bracket,” he added.
Dr.
N Arora, Chair of the Covid-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization on Sunday said that the Covid vaccination program will begin for the 12-14 age group from February-END.
Immunization teenagers are important because they are quite cellular.
They went to school, college, hanging out and at high risk of gaining infection, especially because of the fast-paced omicron variant of Coronavirus.
This is why the government prioritizes this group from under 18 categories, experts said.
“Extending the ambitious vaccination of children is a welcome step.
The government must also consider prioritizing the vaccination of comorbid children in the age group 5-14 because they are also more at risk of developing severe Covid,” said Dr.
Pramod Jog, former President of the National Academy of Pediatric India.
Bharat Biotech Covaxin, which is given to state adolescents (group 15-17) has an approval of emergency use at the center for children in groups 2-17.
Vaccines have been found safe and effective in children’s trials in the aged bracket 2-17.