The Health Ministry has directed all the State governments to accelerate the second dosage coverage of COVID-19 vaccine for the 15-18 age group.
Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, in his letter on Wednesday, stated that to confer full protection of vaccines to the recipients, timely completion of dosage was important. “Hence it is important that the coverage of the second dose amongst adolescents is reviewed daily at your level at the State/Union Territory and similar review is undertaken at the district level as well. Data regarding due beneficiaries in the 15-18 year group for the second dose can be accessed at Co-WIN portal,” wrote Mr. Bhushan in the letter.
The Health Secretary also asked the States to ensure that the remaining adolescent population get their first dose.
The Ministry has also recommended rolling out of a tailored communication strategy focussing on adolescents and their caregivers in order to make them aware of the need for timely completion of the vaccination.
COVID-19 vaccination for the 15-18 age group started on January 3 with the administration of Covaxin. An interval of 28 days is mandatory between both doses. Mr. Bhushan said all the 42 lakh adolescents who received their first dose on January 3 were eligible for the second dose from January 31.
The Health Secretary said India had administered 166.68 crore of COVID-19 vaccine doses, which was amongst the highest in the world.
