With the covid-19 vaccination program for teens between the ages groups 15 and 18 looks to get completed by March 2022, news reports have emerged across the country that India may start the program for 12-14 age groups in the same month. According to a source,there is an estimated 7.5 crore population in the 12-14 age group.
Chairman of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) Dr. N.K. Arora reportedly said the same on Monday. “Of the estimated 7.4 crore (7,40,57,000) population in the 15-18 age bracket, over 3.45 crore have received the first dose of Covaxin so far and their second dose is due in 28 days,” he said.
“Adolescents in this age group have been actively participating in the inoculation process, and going by this pace of vaccination, the rest of the beneficiaries in the 15-18 age group are likely to be covered with the first dose by January-end and subsequently their second dose is expected to be done by February-end,” he said.
Upon the completion of vaccination for 15-18 age group, the government is likely to take a policy decision for initiating the vaccination drive for the 12-14 age group in March.