Jammu, Jan 3 (GNS): The COVID-19 vaccination drive for children in 15-18 year age group will be carried out from January 3 at center’s located in selected schools across the J&K, officials said on Sunday.
The vaccination drive shall be kick started by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha from government Boys Secondary School, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, the officials told GNS. Similar event shall be kick started at Govt. Girls Higher Secondary School , Kothi bagh Srinagar by Additional Chief Secretary Health & Medical Education Department.
“The J&K government is fully prepared to vaccinate the children between 15-18 years of age and Government has made all the necessary arrangements for the vaccination sites where beneficiaries between 15-18 years will be vaccinated from January 3,” they said. The school education department has been asked to encourage children to come forward and get vaccinated from Monday.
On December 25, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi announced inclusion of 15 to 18 year olds in the National Covid Immunisation programme from January 3, 2022. The decision was taken based on the advice of technical experts on immunisation looking into the scientific evidence generated globally on children’s vaccination against Covid-19. The eligible teenagers will be administered only Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin as it is the only vaccine with Emergency Use Listing (EUL) for the 15-18 years age-group and recommended by ‘Covid -19 Working Group’ of the National Technical Advisory Group on immunization.
Children taking the shot will have to remain under observation for half an hour to monitor adverse effects, the same as all eligible people, the officials said. They will be given the second dose after 28 days.
Beneficiaries falling under the 15-18 years age group can register online through an existing account on the CoWlN portal or can register by creating a new account by using a unique mobile number. The facility for online registration has already made available from January 1. The walk-in facility and the on the spot registration at the vaccination centres will also be facilitated for such beneficiaries. (GNS)
