Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government began the COVID-19 vaccination drive for the children in the age group of 12-14 only on a pilot basis at select centres in the state on Wednesday. The full-fledged vaccination drive will begin only from Thursday.
Those born in 2008, 2009 and 2010, up to March 16, are eligible for receiving two jabs of Corbevax vaccine.
Vaccines would be administered to only those who were born between 2008 and March 16, 2010. Once a child completes 12 years of age, he will be allowed to take the vaccine.
The vaccination drive will be held only in government hospitals during the first stage in order to ensure that proper vaccine is distributed.
The two-dose vaccination will be free of cost.
Even though there is enough stock of the vaccine Corbevax, the massive vaccination drive has been put off for a day because the State Health Department has not yet received from the Central Government the guidelines regarding the conduct of the vaccination drive for this particular age group.
Another reason is that Wednesday is the day on which the monthly immunisation programme for kids is being held. So, the high-level meeting chaired by Health Minister Veena George decided to start the COVID-19 vaccination drive for those belonging to the 12-14 age group at only one select centre in each district on Wednesday.
Arrangements will be made in all government hospitals for holding the vaccination drive from Thursday. Spot registration will start at 9 am every day.
Vigil on under-age registrants
The Central Government asked the State Government to strictly ensure that no one below 12 years of age is administered this particular vaccine. Even if anyone below 12 years of age has registered in the CoWIN portal inadvertently, strict scrutiny should be undertaken to delete such names.
Separate colour for vaccination centres
The vaccination centres administering jab for the age group of 12-14 would be given a special colour for identification. A decision on the colour will be taken only after receiving the Central Government's guidelines.
The colour given to the vaccination centres administering vaccines for senior citizens is blue. Pink colour is given to the vaccination centres administering vaccines for the teenagers coming in the age group of 15-17.
Those belonging to the 15-17 age group are given Covaxin, while those in the age group of 12-14 will be given Corbevax. Slots can be booked either through the CoWIN portal account of the parents or through a new mobile phone number.
All those children coming in the age group of 12-14 should be administered vaccines irrespective of their school registration status.
Booster dose for senior citizens
All senior citizens can now take booster dose vaccine from Wednesday. Earlier, only those suffering from serious ailments from among the senior citizens were allowed to take the booster dose vaccine.
The senior citizens who have completed nine months (39 weeks) after taking the second dose can now go for booster dose of the same vaccine.
