Covid-19 vaccination for all beneficiaries of the 12-14 age group will begin from 16th March 2022, National Vaccination Day, at all government vaccination centres. Covid-19 vaccine to be administer would be Corbevax manufacture by Biological E. Limited, Hyderabad.
This can be done online registration that begin at 9 am on 16th March 2022 or through an onsite walk-in.
This was reiterate by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan in a meeting through video conference (VC) today with all states and union territories.
This follows the decision of the Union Government to start Covid-19 vaccination for 12-13 year and 13-14 year age groups those born in 2008, 2009 and 2010. i.e. those who are already above 12 years of age from 16th March 2022.
All above 60 years of age are now eligible for precaution dose from 16th March 2022, as the condition of comorbidity for this age group has been remove.
The booster Dose same as the previous two doses is to be administer after 9 months or 36 weeks after the date of the second vaccination.
Detail instructions and Operational Guidelines have sent to states and UTs in this regard.
All States were advise to ensure that only those who have attain the age of 12 years on the date of vaccination are vaccinate against Covid-19.
If the beneficiary is register but has not attain the age of 12 years on the date of vaccination, the vaccine is not to be given.
Vaccinators and vaccination teams need to be train to ensure that particularly for the 12-14 years age group there is no mixing of vaccines.
States were advise to organise dedicate sessions through earmark vaccination centres for vaccination of 12-14 years age group to avoid mixing with other vaccines.
States/UTs were inform that at present the age of beneficiary in CoWIN is being filter base on the Year of Birth.
The responsibility for verification of age (12 years) will lie with the vaccinator/verifier at the time of vaccination for the first few days as the provision for recording the exact Date of Birth in the Co-WIN portal is under process.
When implement, the system, by default, will not allow the registration of beneficiaries who are not of the recommended age.
Underscoring the slow pace of vaccination among the vulnerable groups, states were urge to ensure that all those above 60 years of age are cover with both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Regular reviews are to be conduct at district and block levels to ensure coverage of eligible beneficiaries.
Sates were also advise to ensure judicious utilisation of available Covid-19 vaccines.
As per earlier guidelines, states can replace those that are due for expiry and also replace them from one district within the State to another to ensure that vaccines are not waste.
Ahead of the rollout of Covid vaccination for children aged 12-14 years, the Centre on 15th March 2022 release guidelines and said that only Corbevax vaccine would be administer to this group.
Centre Guidelines for Covid-19 Vaccination of 12-14 Years Age
- The beneficiaries in the 12-14 years age group will get two jabs of Biological E’s intramuscular vaccine Corbevax at an interval of 28 days.
- Precaution dose will be provided to all persons aged 60 years and above.
- The prioritization and sequencing of this shot would be based on completion of nine months, 39 weeks from the date of administration of the second dose.
- The same vaccine with which primary vaccination was done has to be administer for precaution dose.
- All beneficiaries born in 2010 or earlier, those who have already attain the age of 12 years, will be able to register on CoWIN.
Guidelines Mention as per PTI :
“The vaccination slots will be booked for 12-14 years age group for “CorBEvax” only through Co-WIN. Vaccinator has to ensure that the vaccine is administered to only those children who have completed the age of 12 years on the date of vaccination and if a child is registered but has not attained the age of 12 years, the vaccination is not to be given,”.
- Modes of registration, Self-registration through an existing account on Co-WIN of a family member or by creating a new account through a unique mobile number and this facility is available for all eligible citizens presently.
- Onsite registration by the vaccinator in facilitate registration mode and appointments can be book online or walk-in for 12-14 years.
- There are as many as 4.7 crore children aged 12 and 13 years in the country as of 1st March, 2021.
