Following deliberations with scientists and health experts, the Centre on Monday decided to start Covid-19 vaccination of children in the age group of 12 to 13 years and 13 to 14 years.
As per the announcement, the children born in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and who are already above 12 years of age are eligible to receive the covid vaccine. The vaccination drive will start from March 16.
The COVID19 vaccine to be administered would be Corbevax which is manufactured by Biological Evans, Hyderabad.
It is to be noted that population above 14 years of age is already being administered COVID19 vaccine under the ongoing COVID19 vaccination programme.
"If children are safe then the country is safe! I am happy to inform that the Covid vaccination program for the children in the age group of 12 to 13 and 13 to 14 is starting from March 16", said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in a tweet.
The Centre has also removed the condition of co-morbidity for COVID19 ‘Precaution Dose’ for population over 60 years of age. As per the decision, the entire population above 60 years of age will be eligible for Precaution Dose of COVID19 vaccine from March 16.