New Delhi, Feb 18 (FN Representative) More than 2 crore adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years are now “fully vaccinated” against Covid-19 in the country, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed on Friday. Sharing the landmark achievement, the minister posted the message on Twitter. “Young India taking the world’s largest vaccination drive to the next level! Over 2 crore youngsters between 15-18 age group are now fully vaccinated against #COVID19.”
Meanwhile, according to the union health ministry, over 70 per cent of adolescents from the same age group have received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. According to the Registrar General of India (RGI), the current estimated population of beneficiaries in the age group of 15-18 years is 7.4 crores. The nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive for children in the age group of 15-18 years began on January 3. However, unlike adult vaccination, the teenagers are only administered the shots of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin. Meanwhile, the precaution dose programme for the healthcare & frontline workers and those above 60 with comorbidities, having taken both the doses, has also started last month. With the administration of over 37.86 lakh doses (37,86,806) in a span of 24 hours, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 174.64 crore, according to a provisional report by Union Health Ministry published at 7 am today.