In wake of the rising cases of Covid 9 in State, Additional Chief Secretary, Health Medical Education and Family Welfare, Arun Kumar Singh wrote a letter to Deputy Commissioners’ (DCs’)of all 24 districts of the State to start vaccination for age group of 15 to years from January 3.
Singh mentioned that keeping in view the recent global surge of Covid 19 cases, detection of Omicron variant which has been categorized as a variant of concern scientist and epidemiological evidence, WHO guidelines and global practices along with the inputs and suggestions of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) as well as Standing Technical Scientific Committee (STSC) of NTAGI, it has been decided to further refine the scientific prioritization and coverage of COVID 19 vaccination as follow in the age group of 15-18 years.
In the letter it was clearly said by Singh that these guidelines will be come into effect by immediate effect and reviewed from time to time and amendments, if any, shall be communicated immediately.
According to the letter the programme will be formally start on January 3 and name of the vaccine will covaxin as this is only vaccine with EUL for this age group, first the beneficiary will register themselves on online mode which available from January 1 on CoWin portal, beneficiary can walk in also and be-registered on site by the verifier and vaccinator in facilitated registration mode.
All existing sessions for 18+ COVEXIN are programmed by GoI from back end to 15+ COVAXIN. All districts to ensure not to cancel or reschedule such sessions for 18+, to avoid inconvenience to those who have already scheduled an appointment for such a future session. District should edit session capacity and increase dose 1 slot wherever necessary.
The vaccination for this age group will follow the ame norms as being followed for the vaccination of the adult population for COVEXIN. All districts identify or make dedicated COVID vaccination centers which will be used for vaccination for this age group. The vaccination should be done with the consultation of District Education Officers (DEOs) and the date related to such beneficiaries will be obtained from DEOs for appropriate planning. All schools and colleges should be made vaccination centers on a rotation basis.
According to the letter the District should ensure that vaccination centers at these dedicated CVCs or CVCs meant for their vaccination must be pulicised in advance, should be reflected on Co-WIN portal as well, appropriate and adequate IEC campaign through various media be made, facilitating spread of proper information across the community.