Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is going to launch the UT-level COVID-19 vaccination drive for children in 15-18 year age group on Monday, January 03 from Government Higher Secondary School (Boys), Gandhi Nagar, Jammu.The COVID-19 vaccination drive for children in the 15-18 year age group will be carried out from January 03 at centers located in selected schools across the Union Territory. 8.33 lakh children targeted for inoculation during the vaccination drive in the UT.Similar event shall be held at Government 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 has made all the necessary arrangements for the vaccination sites where the children falling under the targeted age group will be vaccinated. The school education department has been asked to encourage the children to come forward and get vaccinated from Monday.On December 25, Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi announced inclusion of 15 to 18 year age group in the National Covid Immunization programme from January 03, 2022. The decision taken was based on the advice of technical experts on immunization 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 vaccine shot will be kept under observation for half an hour to monitor adverse effects, the same as all eligible people. They will be given the second dose after 28 days.The facility for online registration has already been made available from January 01. Those 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 walk-in facility and on the spot registration at the vaccination centers will also be facilitated for such beneficiaries.
