Mumbai: 50 days on, one lakh kids in 12-14 age group jabbed

A girl gets a dose of Corbevax at Nair hospital on Wednesday. Pic/Ashish Raje

After a slow start, the BMC has so far inoculated around 1 lakh kids aged between 12 and 14 years with COVID vaccines. Civic officials said parents play an important role in boosting the numbers as they have started bringing their children for vaccination after exams got over.

The drive for this age group kicked off on March 16. Since then, BMC has jabbed 99,554 beneficiaries with at least one dose, while 19,821 have taken both shots. Children from this age group are administered Corbevax with a 28-day gap between the two doses.

Dr Mangala Gomare, executive health officer, BMC, said "In the past few days we have seen an increase in the vaccination number of the said group. Maybe now that exams are over, parents are taking them for vaccination. We haven't reported any major side effects due to vaccination among children. We appeal to parents to bring their kids to get them vaccinated."

Another official from the health department said, "Now, exams are over and many of the kids are going out of the city for vacation or to their native places, so we might see a slowdown in vaccination. But in June, we are expecting a better turnout as everyone will be back in the city and schools and colleges will be open."

Meanwhile, 3,82,456 teens aged between 15 and 17 have taken the first dose of the vaccine and 2,77,674 have taken both doses.