Guwahati, Feb 2: The Assam health department has embarked on the second dose COVID-19 vaccination drive among adolescents even as 8.81 lakh beneficiaries in the 15 to 17 years’ group have been given first dose jabs since the campaign was launched on January 3 this year.
The drive, according to health officials here, is set to gain momentum by mid-February onwards once all educational institutions reopen in the state.
“So far, we have vaccinated 8, 81772 lakh beneficiaries in the age group of 15-17 years with the first dose of Covaxin. Besides, the second dose vaccine administration among the beneficiaries has also been initiated. We have managed to vaccinate about 9000 beneficiaries in the past two days. Once the schools reopen, the pace of vaccination will certainly pick up,” Assam nodal officer of COVID-19 vaccination, Munindra Nath Ngatey informed The Shillong Times here on Wednesday.
Covaxin has an interval of 28 days between the two doses to complete the primary vaccination schedule Hence, all adolescents in the age group who received the first dose on January 3, 2022, have become eligible for the second dose from January 31, 2022.
The Assam government has set a target of vaccinating 20 lakh teenagers with both doses by the first half March so that they can appear for the offline board and other exams.
Meanwhile, the secretary to the Union health and family welfare ministry, Rajesh Bhushan, has directed officials in states and Union Territories to accelerate the second dose coverage among due beneficiaries aged 15-18 years, while ensuring that the remaining beneficiaries for the first dose also get the jabs in time.
“It is important that the coverage of second dose amongst adolescents is reviewed daily at your level at states/UTs and similar review is undertaken at district level as well. Data regarding due beneficiaries of 15-18 years age group for second dose can be accessed on Co-WIN portal,” Bhushan wrote to the officials.
“A tailored communication strategy, focused on the adolescent population and their caregivers, should also be rolled out to make them aware about the timely completion of vaccination schedules and sustain their vaccine confidence,” he stated in the letter.
