On Monday, the Union Health Ministry announced guidelines for COVID-19 immunisation of children aged 15 to 18, as well as a prophylactic dose for healthcare and frontline workers, as well as individuals aged 60 and older with comorbidities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Saturday that vaccination against COVID-19 will begin on January 3 for youngsters aged 15 to 18, with a “precaution dose” for healthcare and frontline workers beginning on January 10.
He also stated that starting January 10 next year, the elderly population aged 60 and up with comorbidities will be given a prophylactic dose on the advise of their doctor. The priority and sequencing of the cautionary dose would be determined on the completion of nine months (39 weeks) from the date of administration of the second dose, according to the guidelines.
The government’s notification also said that Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin will be the only COVID-19 vaccine available, for now, for children, who will be
The guidelines will come into effect from January 3 and will be reviewed from time to time.
“Keeping in view the recent global surge of COVID 19 cases, detection of Omicron variant which has been categorised as a variant of concern, scientific evidence, global practices and the suggestions of ‘COVID-19 Working Group of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) as well as of ‘Standing Technical Scientific Committee (STSC) of NTAGI, it has now been decided to further refine the scientific prioritization and coverage of COVID-19 vaccination,” the ministry said in its order. Co-WIN features and provisions for HCWS, FLWS and citizens 60+ with co-morbidities:
All healthcare and frontline workers and citizens aged 60 years or above with comorbidities will be able to access the vaccination for precaution dose through their existing Co-WIN account. Eligibility of such beneficiaries for the precaution dose will be based on the date of administration of second dose as recorded in the Co-WIN system.
Co-WIN system will send SMS to such beneficiaries for availing the precaution dose when the dose becomes due.
Registration and appointment services can be accessed through both, the online and the onsite modes.
