Covaxin only vaccine option for children from ages 15 to 18: Centre

The vaccine option against Covid19 for children in the age group of 1518 years who will be inoculated from January 3 would be Covaxin only according to new guidelines issued by the Union health ministry on MondayThe prioritisation and sequencing of the precaution dose third dose for healthcare workers HCWs frontline workers FLWs and citizens above 60 years of age with comorbidities would be based on completion of nine months from the date of administration of second dose which is 39 weeks the guidelines which will come into effect from January 3 statedHCWs FLWs and citizens aged 60 years or above with comorbidities will be able to access vaccination for the precaution dose through their existing CoWIN accountEligibility for the precaution dose will be based on the date of administration of the second dose as recorded in the CoWIN system which will send an SMS for availing the precaution dose when it becomes due the ministry informedRegistration and appointment services can be accessed through online and onsite modes and details of administration of the precaution dose will reflect in vaccination certificates according to the guidelinesThose aged 15 years or more will be able to register on CoWIN In other words all those whose birth year is 2007 or before shall be eligible according to the Guidelines for COVID19 vaccination of children between 1518 years and precaution dose to HCWs FLWs and 60 population with comorbiditiesBeneficiaries can selfregister online through an existing CoWIN account or create a new account through a mobile phone number This facility is available for all eligible citizens onlyThey can be also registered onsite by a verifier or vaccinator in the facilitated registration mode the ministry statedOn vaccination of children the guidelines said For such beneficiaries option for vaccination would only be available for Covaxin as this is the only vaccine with EUL emergency use listing for the agegroup 1517The ministry said that as a matter of abundant precaution for those HCWs FLWs who have received two doses another dose of Covid19 vaccine would be provided from January 10People aged 60 years and above with comorbidities who have received two doses of Covid19 vaccine will on doctors advice be provided with the precaution dose from January 10 it saidThe prioritisation and sequencing of this precaution dose would be based on the completion of nine months ie 39 weeks from the date of administration of second dose the guidelines statedCitizens irrespective of their income status are entitled to free Covid19 vaccination at Government Vaccination Centres Those who have the ability to pay are encouraged to use private hospitals vaccination centres the ministry saidKeeping in view the recent global surge in Covid19 cases detection of the Omicron variant that has been categorised Variant of Concern scientific evidence global practices and inputs of the Covid19 Working Group of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization as well as of the Standing Technical Scientific Committee of NTAGI it has now been decided to further refine the scientific prioritisation and coverage of vaccination the guidelines statedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever