JNS: The government has issued guidelines for COVID vaccination for Children between 15 to 18 years, which is scheduled to begin among the children of the age group of 15 to 18 years 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 citizens above 60 years with comorbidities.
The Ministry said, all those aged 15 years or more will be able to register on CoWIN from 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 3rd of January. He also announced precaution dose to Health Care Workers, Front Line Workers, and citizens above 60 years with comorbidities from 10th of January.
Health Care Workers and Front Line Workers who have already received two doses, another dose of COVID-19 vaccine will be provided from 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 guideline reveals.
All persons aged 60 years and above with comorbidities who have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, will be provided precautionary dose on Doctor’s advice from 10th of January, it stated.
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 3rd of January next year.
Centre has also issued a fresh directive to States and Union Territories on Tuesday to treat persons on election duty in poll-bound states as frontline workers, eligible for precaution dose.
