*Now precautionary dose for all above 60 years
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 15: In line with other states of the country, the COVID-19 vaccination drive for the children between 12-14 years is going to begin from tomorrow in Jammu & Kashmir, for which all the required arrangements have been made by Health Department of the UT. Moreover, from today all above 60 years of age will be eligible for precautionary doses of Covid-19 vaccine.
Official sources told Excelsior that the drive will be kick started in Jammu Division by RR Bhatnagar, Advisor (Health & Medical Education Department) to LG from Government Hospital, Gandhi Nagar in Jammu while Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang K Pole will launched the drive in Kashmir Division from Government Higher Secondary School Rajwan in Srinagar.
Dr Salim-ur-Rehman, Director, Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization, who is also holding the additional charge of Director Health Services Jammu told Excelsior that they are fully prepared to start the Covid vaccination drive for 12-14 age group children. He informed that as per their calculation there are about 6 lakh children between 12-14 years in the UT, of which 2.63 lakh belongs to Jammu province and 3.36 lakh from Kashmir.
“All these children will be administered Corbevax vaccine, manufactured by Hyderabad-based Biological E. Two doses of intramuscular vaccine Corbevax would be administered to the beneficiaries at an interval of 28 days, he said, adding, they have already received the required number of vaccines from the Centre and also distributed the same at vaccination centres across the UT.
Dr Salim said that the vaccination of 12-14 years children would be conducted through dedicated inoculation sessions to avoid their unintended vaccination with any other COVID-19 vaccines.”The vaccination slots can be booked for Corbevax only through Co-WIN. Vaccinator has to ensure that the vaccine is administered to only those children who have completed the age of 12 years on the date of vaccination and if a child is registered but has not attained the age of 12 years, the vaccination is not to be given,” he added.
He said the window of the Co-WIN portal will be opened for registration at 12 noon. The registration can be done from an existing account on Co-WIN of a family member or by creating a new account through a unique mobile number. Onsite (walk-in) registration can also be done by the beneficiaries,” he added.
Dr Salim further shared that from tomorrow the entire population above 60 years of age will be eligible for precautionary doses of Covid-19 vaccine as the Centre has removed the condition of co-morbidity for administering Covid-19 precaution dose for population over 60 years of age. The prioritization and sequencing of the precautionary dose would be based on completion of nine months — 39 weeks from the date of administration of the second dose, he asserted while adding that the vaccination of precaution dose should be with the same vaccine with which primary vaccination was done.
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