Thiruvananthapuram: Health Minister Veena George has said that the state is ready for the covid vaccination of children between the ages of 15 and 18. The state had earlier asked the Center to start vaccinating children. All arrangements for the vaccination of children will be made as per the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Health. The Department of Health is working to ensure that all children are vaccinated safely. The vaccine has been given in the state since the age of 18 depending on the date of birth. Accordingly, it is sufficient to vaccinate children aged 15, 16, and 17 years. This age group has about 15 lakh children. As children, their health will also be ensured. The minister also said that in the context of Omicron, efforts will be made to complete the vaccination of children as soon as possible.
Vaccination of persons above 18 years of age in the State is in its final stages. 97.58% (2,60,63,883) of the population receiving the vaccine received the first dose and 76.67% (2,04,77,049) received the second dose of the vaccine. A total of 4,65,40,932 doses of the vaccine were administered, including one and two doses. This is well above the national average. At the national level, the first dose of vaccination is 89.10 percent and the second dose of vaccine is 61.51 percent.
There are 5.55 lakh health workers, 5.71 lakh covid frontline workers, and 59.29 lakh people above 60 years of age. One hundred percent of these groups were given the first dose of vaccine and more than 90 percent of the second dose of the vaccine. A precautionary dose is mandatory. The state is also ready to give a precautionary dose to the said groups as per the central guidelines.
Since the vaccination of children starts on January 3, the rest of the people over the age of 18 should be vaccinated as soon as possible. Those who need to get the first dose and those who have time to get the second dose should get the vaccine this week. The state has a stock of about 26 lakh dose vaccines. After January 2, the emphasis will be on children’s vaccinations. The Minister also requested that in the context of Omicron, it should be ensured that everyone is vaccinated.
