Covid vaccine for kids aged 15-18, booster doses: Centre issues guidelines

NEW DELHI: The Union health ministry on Monday issued detailed guidelines for the vaccination of children aged 15-18 as well as precaution doses for health/frontline workers and those above 60 with comorbidities.
The guidelines will come into effect from January 3 next year.
Here's all you need to know:
* The health ministry said children in the age group of 15-18 years will only be able to receive Covaxin as of now.
* The children in the eligible age bracket will be able to register on CoWin from January 1.
* For the registration process, children can use their Aadhaar or other valid identity cards. Children who do not have an Aadhaar card can register using their 10th ID cards (student ID cards).
* Healthcare/frontline workers and those aged 60 years or above with comorbidities will be able to register for precaution dose through their existing Co-WIN account. The doses will be provided starting January 10, 2022.
* People who are 60 or above who have received two does can take the precaution dose only on recommendation from their doctor.
* The prioritization and sequencing of precaution dose would be based on the completion of 9 months i.e. 39 weeks from the date of administration of second dose.
In his address to the nation, PM Modi had announced the government's decision to expand the vaccination ambit and begin precautionary doses in view of the Covid situation.
The health ministry said the decision was taken in view the recent global surge of cases, detection of Omicron variant which has been categorized as a Variant of Concern (VOC), scientific evidence, global practices and the inputs/suggestions of experts.
India has so far reported 578 cases of Omicron variant which is said to be highly infectious.
Several states have started reimposing curbs amid fears of an Omicron-fuelled wave as cases have started rising in Mumbai and Delhi.