Over 50% Indians in 15-18 age group given first dose of Covid-19 vaccine: Health Minister

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Jan 18, 2022: Union Minister of Health Mansukh Mandaviya took to Twitter on Tuesday evening to announce that more than fifty per cent of India’s population in the 15 to 18 years age group have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

 

He wrote that it was a big day in India’s fight against Covid-19 and congratulated the country’s youngsters. Mansukh Mandaviya went on to say that his "young friends’ enthusiasm for vaccination" was inspiring the rest of India.

"Big day for India’s fight against Covid-19! Over 50% of our youngesters between 15-18 age group have received their 1st dose of Covid-19 vaccine. Well done, my young friends! Your enthusiasm for vaccination is inspiring people all over India," he tweeted.

As Covid-19 cases began to surge in India, the nation initiated a vaccination drive for teenagers in the age group of 15-18 years on January 3. An announcement to this end was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last week of December. So far, only Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin vaccine is being administered to those below the age of 18 years.On Monday, Dr NK Arora told India Today that India will begin vaccinating 12-14-year-olds by March of this year. Dr Arora is chairman of the central government’s Covid-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI).