Chief Minister launches Covid vaccination drive for children in 12-14 age group in Assam

March 16: Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma formally launched Covid vaccination drive for children in 12-14 age group in the state at Rukminigaon Balika Vidyalaya High School, Guwahati on Wednesday. Expressing his views, the Chief Minister said, “I want to assure all parents that this vaccine is completely safe for their children, but it should not be taken on empty stomach.”

Also, all persons above 60 years of age are now eligible for Precaution Dose of Covid vaccine, which can be taken only after 9 months (36 weeks) from the date of administration of the second dose. The Chief Minister also urged all those eligible to get themselves vaccinated.

Happy to launch Covid vaccination drive for children in 12-14 age group in Assam at Rukminigaon Balika Vidyalaya High School, Guwahati.

I want to assure all parents that this vaccine is completely safe for their children, but it should not be taken on empty stomach. pic.twitter.com/cnQKfRR1sq

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 16, 2022

Earlier on 13 March, 2022,  the Union health ministry said in a statement, “Union Government after due deliberations with scientific bodies has decided to start Covid-19 vaccination for 12-13 year and 13-14 year age groups (those born in 2008, 2009 and 2010. i.e those who are already above 12 years of age) of population from 16th March 2022. The Covid-19 vaccine to be administered would be Corbevax manufactured by Biological Evans, Hyderabad.” Children between ages 15 and 18 are already being administered Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.

Corbevax, a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Hyderabad-based Biological E, has received emergency use authorisation for children between 12 and 18 years of age from India’s drug regulator. The approval was based on interim results of the ongoing Phase-2 and Phase-3 clinical trials. The Drugs Controller General of India already previously approved the use of Corbevax among adults on December 28 last year.

The Union government will start the Covid vaccination for the 12-14 year age group this week,  Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Monday. The health minister said that the vaccination for 12-13 and for 13-14 age group will start from March 16, Wednesday. In addition to this, people above 60 will be able to take precaution shots, the minister added.