Chandigarh to roll out Covid vaccination for 12 to 14 age group from March 16

The Covid vaccination for 12 to 14 age group is to start from Monday, as per the Centre’s directions to states and union territories

The Chandigarh health department will roll out a detailed plan for Covid vaccination of the 12-14 age group after the union government’s video conference slated for Tuesday.

Since January 3, Chandigarh health department has vaccinated 59,752 (83%) children with at least the first dose of Covaxin and 31,494 (43%) are fully vaccinated. (HT File)

The vaccination for this group is to start from Wednesday, as per the Centre’s directions to states and union territories.

As per UT health department, the vaccination of children can be started in special camps set up at various government and private schools, besides hospitals and health and wellness centres across the city.

“So far, we do not have any target on eligible population in the 12-14 age group. The Union government will set the target. But, we have enough stock of vaccines and are ready to roll out the drive from Wednesday, after getting a detailed plan from the higher authorities,” said Dr Suman Singh, director, health services, Chandigarh.

Earlier, the anti-Covid vaccination drive for children in the age group of 15-17 was started from January 3. As per the population projected by the central government, about 72,000 children in 15-17 group are eligible for vaccination in Chandigarh.

Since January 3, UT health department has vaccinated 59,752 (83%) children with at least the first dose of Covaxin and 31,494 (43%) are fully vaccinated. These include children from migrant families and nearby cities.

UT had initially aimed to vaccinate the entire eligible population by January 26.

Even as all government and private schools in Chandigarh have resumed offline teaching, around 21,000 children, aged between 15 and 18, have skipped Covid vaccine’s second dose, rendering the first jab ineffective and slowing down the vaccination drive.