In less than five weeks after its launch on January 3, the first dose of Covid vaccine reached five crore children, suggesting that over 67.5 per cent of teenagers aged 15 to 17 have been partially vaccinated
The achievement is significant because most states are resuming offline lessons in schools and other educational institutions, and adolescents aged 15 to 17 are the most exposed to the infection’s danger of serious sickness and death if they are not vaccinated.
According to data from the past two years, 75 per cent of those youngsters who died as a result of Covid-19 were aged 15 to 18. Furthermore, 10-15% of children aged 15 to 18 have co-morbidities, putting them at greater risk, according to experts.
However, coverage of the second dosage among 15-17-year-olds needs to be improved, with only about 91 lakh fully vaccinated as of Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Centre has advised states to expedite coverage of the second dose for those who are eligible.
Since Covaxin is administered in two doses separated by 28 days, almost two crore children who had their first treatment during the first week of the programme are now due for their second dose.
Around 7.4 crore teenagers in the 15-17 age bracket are expected to exist in the country, according to the health ministry.
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya took to Twitter to announce this feat.
