JAIPUR: The state has received 30 lakh doses of Biological E's Covid vaccine, Corbevax, for use in children aged between 12 to 14 years during a vaccination drive which will begin from March 16.
According to an estimation, the number of children to benefit is 45 to 46 lakh. Also, all 60+ people are now eligible for booster doses from March 16. Earlier, only senior citizens with comorbidities were eligible.
Since schools have opened, some parents are apprehensive about sending their unvaxxed children to schools.
In the state, currently, vaccines are being given to children and adults aged 15 years and above age.
A health department official said they will hold camps in schools and in hospitals to inoculate children.
"We have received 30 lakh doses of Corbevax and we are distributing the doses among districts according to the requirement," said a senior health department official.
He added two doses will be administered to children (12-14 age group), at a gap of 28 days. It is a new vaccine for the state, which will be administered via the intramuscular route and can be stored at 2oC to 8oC. The Drug Controller General of India had approved Corbevax for restricted use in emergencies among adults on December 28, 2021. Now, Mansukh Mandaviya, the union health minister, tweeted on Monday, informing that vaccination of children from 12-13 years and 13-14year will begin from March 16. On March 13, the state achieved a milestone of administration of 10 crore doses of Covid vaccines in the drive that started on January 16. The state has achieved 98.4% target in vaccinating its 18+ population with the first dose and also, 84.2% of adults population was fully vaccinated in the state.
