The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday, 14 March, announced that children aged 12-14 would begin to receive their vaccine against the novel coronavirus from 16 March.
"Also, everyone aged 60+ will now be able to get the precautionary dose," Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted.
Who is eligible? Which vaccine will they get? Here's all you need to know.
Who is eligible to get the vaccine shot?
The Health Ministry said that those born in 2008, 2009, and 2010, i.e, those who are above the age of 12, will be eligible for their COVID-19 vaccines from 16 March.
Vaccination for children aged 15-18 in India had started on 3 January this year. Children in that age group were administered the Covaxin vaccine.
Which vaccine will be administered for this age group?
According to the Health Ministry, Biological E's Corbevax vaccine will be administered to the 12-14 year age group. Biological E had previously received EUA for the Corbevax vaccine in the 12-18 year age group.
This comes after Biological E had applied for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for the Corbevax vaccine for the 5-12 age group in India.
My child is 12 and I want her to get Covaxin. Is that allowed?
We do not know that yet. The Health Ministry said that Corbevax would be used for this age group.
Will vaccine for children be mandatory?
Not really. In India, the vaccine against the coronavirus has not been made mandatory for any age group/category.
Will students have to register on Co-WIN?
"Children in the age group of 15-18 years will be able to register on the CoWin app from Jan 1. We've added an additional (10th) ID card for registration - the student ID card because some might not have Aadhaar or other identity cards," Dr RS Sharma had told ANI on 29 December 2021, before the first phase of vaccination for children.
The same process will be followed for this age group as well.
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