Around 4,576 children received their second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine after completing the 28-gap period between two shots of Covaxin in Delhi till 6 pm, Monday accounting for 21.7% of those who became eligible among children between the ages of 15 and 17 years. 21,029 children had received their first shot on January 3, when the vaccination drive was opened for the age group.

Data from the government’s CoWIN portal showed that a total of 13,604 shots were administered to children in total till Monday evening. The children are eligible to receive only Covaxin shots.

An official from Delhi’s health department said that there was less response for the second dose among children as vaccination was being carried out only in some designated vaccine centres on Monday. This would increase when vaccination camps start at schools. Children were aware that the camps would be organized in the schools and mostly opting to get their shots there itself.

Till date 8,06,109 children had been administered their first dose of Covaxin in Delhi, accounting for 77.5% of the estimated children between the age group in Delhi. 76,185 total shots were administered on Monday till 6 pm, 10,095 shots on Sunday, last Sunday 11,723 shots were administered, and 23,579 shots were administered the week before.

An official said that more children would receive their second dose of the vaccine from January 31. Also, the number of people receiving precaution doses would increase after three months as most people who were eligible had the infection during the January surge in cases.

So far, 2,71,310 precaution doses have been administered in Delhi. There are a total of 9,70,000 healthcare workers, frontline workers, and people over the age of 60 years with co-morbidities who are eligible for the precaution doses.

Source: The Indian Express