Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Apr 15: Less than 40 per cent of those eligible in the 15-18 years age group have been administered both the doses of COVID-19 vaccine in 10 States and Union Territories with J&K at the second top and Meghalaya being the last in the list.
According to the Government data in this regard, Andhra Pradesh is at the top with 102.9 percent of the target population in the age group of 15-18 years being fully vaccinated.
It is followed by Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory which has inoculated 83.6 percent of the target beneficiaries in this category till date.
No other State or Union Territory, except Andhra Pradesh, has registered better performance than J&K, which is followed by Himachal Pradesh with 80.8 per cent achievement.
Pertinent to mention that Jammu & Kashmir UT had achieved the target of 100 percent COVID-19 vaccination in the 15 – 18 years age group for the first dose in Ganderbal, Shopian and Anantnag districts of Kashmir division and Poonch district of Jammu division within a fortnight since launching of the vaccination drive for the target beneficiaries in the month of January.
With the efforts of district administration, Health officials, and Frontline Workers, the Health Department of J&K has been running a massive immunization campaign across the Union Territory thus registering the remarkable achievement
The drive, a part of the national campaign against the Covid pandemic, led to resumption of normal schooling which was badly hit by the pandemic since its outbreak in early 2020.
In Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Kerala, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Puducherry, Tripura and Lakshadweep, the percentage of fully vaccinated in this age group was below 50.
Meghalaya is the last in the list with 10 per cent of the target population fully vaccinated. Ahead of Meghalaya is Nagaland, which has inoculated 18.7 per cent of the target beneficiaries in this category, and Manipur (24.6 per cent), the data as on April 15 showed.
Arunachal Pradesh has vaccinated 28.9 per cent of the adolescents in the 15-18 years age group followed by Jharkhand at 30.7 per cent, Bihar 35.2 per cent, Assam 36.4 per cent, Punjab 37 per cent and Chandigarh 37.1 per cent. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have vaccinated 38.2 per cent.
The national average of second dose coverage in the 15-18 years age group is 54.3 per cent, the data showed. An estimated 7,40,57,000 adolescents are there in the country in this age-group.
India opened up vaccination for the 15-18 years age-group on January 3. The vaccine option against COVID-19 for children in this age group is Covaxin. The cumulative vaccine doses administered in the country has exceeded 186.30 crore as per provisional reports till 7 am today.
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