With the Centre issuing guidelines for Covid vaccination of children between 15-18 years, the Odisha Health Department on Tuesday cleared all doubts about the eligibility criteria for the jab drive slated to commence on January 10.
“Children who were born before January 1, 2007 are eligible to take the COVID19 vaccine doses. Online and on-site registration facilities are available. Depending on the situation, new centres will be designated for vaccination of the adolescents,” said Health and Family Welfare Director Bijay Panigrahi.
“In case of unavailability of new centres, separate queues will be made for adolescents in the existing vaccination centres,” Panigrahi added.
Speaking about the duration of gap between two doses of vaccines, Panigrahi said, “The gap between first dose and second dose for children would be 28 days. For senior citizens, it is yet to be decided which vaccine would be administered. For boosters, doctors have recommended for a gap of nine months post date of second dose administration.”
Meanwhile, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has started preparations for the administration of preventive dose or booster doses of Covid vaccines to healthcare workers and 60 plus population with co-morbidities in the city.
CMC deputy Commissioner Abinash Rout today said the vaccination drive will commence on January 10, 2022.
“Booster doses will be administered to frontline workers from January 10 and those above 60 years with co-morbidities on the recommendation of doctors. The list of places to be designated as vaccination centres is being reviewed,” he added.