Over 30 million adolescents, accounting for around 41% of youngsters in the 15-17 year age group, are now fully vaccinated with two doses of Covaxin, while almost 75% have taken at least one anti-Covid jab. India has achieved this milestone in nearly two months since the rollout of the immunisation drive for 15-17 year olds from January 3. Around 74 million adolescents are estimated to be in this age category.
“What a great feat by our young warriors! Over 30 million youngsters between 15-18 age group are now fully vaccinated against #COVID19. Young India is taking the world’s largest vaccination drive to the next level! #SabkoVaccineMuftVaccine,” health minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted.
With increasing coverage of Covid jabs among 15-17 year olds, the government is now also expected to lower the age to 12 years as more vaccines are also getting approved for those above 12 years. Sources said the government is likely to take a call on expanding vaccination coverage to 12-15 year olds by end of this month.
Apart from Covaxin - which is currently the only vaccine being administered to 15-17 years, the drug regulator has also given emergency authorisation to Zydus Cadila’s ZyCoV-D and Biological E’s Corbevax for use in youngster of 12-17 years. Besides, Serum Institute of India’s Covovax has also been recommended for emergency use authorisation for those in 12-17 years age bracket by the regulator expert committee.
