India to start Covid-19 vaccination for 12 to 14 age group from March 16

Covid-19 vaccination for children in the age group of 12 -14 years will begin from March 16, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed on Monday.

The health minister also tweeted that the "precaution dose" will also be open for all those above 60 years of age. Till now precaution dose was limited to senior citizens suffering from co-morbidities.

Children in the 12 to 14 age group will be administered Biological E's Corbevax, PTI has reported.

The government decision came after National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) gave its recommendation to begin vaccination of children in the 12-15 years age group.

The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 last year with healthcare workers getting inoculated in the first phase. The vaccination of frontline workers started from February 2 last year.

The vaccination was opened for above 45 age group from April 1, 2021. The government then decided to expand its vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 to be vaccinated from May 1 last year. The next phase of Covid-19 vaccination commenced from January 3 for adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years

ALSO WATCH: Covid: India sees 14% drop in new cases