India likely to begin Covid vaccination for 12-14 age group from March: NTAGI chief

Jan. 17: India at present is vaccinating those above 15 years of age. Very soon, the country is likely to start vaccinating children in the age group of 12 to 14 years. Dr NK Arora, chairman of the Covid-19 working group of NTAGI, on Monday said that the country may start inoculating children in the 12-14 age group against coronavirus in March as the 15-18 population is expected to get fully vaccinated by then.

Of the estimated 7.4 crore (7,40,57,000) population in the 15-18 age bracket, over 3.45 crore have received the first dose of Covaxin so far and their second dose is due in 28 days. Once the 15-18 age group is covered, he said, the government is likely to take a policy decision for initiating the vaccination drive for the 12-14 age group in March. According to him, there is an estimated 7.5 crore population in the 12-14 age group.