Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces vaccination drive against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) for adolescents between 15-18 years of age in India kicking off on January 3, 2022. Dr NK Arora, chairperson of the Covid-19 working group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation in India (NTAGI), has explained the benefits of it.
According to the reports, Dr Arora stated that children between the age of 12 and 18 years behave very much like adults. Research indicates that almost two-thirds of COVID19 deaths (below 18 years) in India are within this age group. Therefore, this decision was taken to protect the adolescents. They are quite mobile, they have to go to the school colleges and therefore the risk of getting an infection is high.
Further Dr Arora added that many times these adolescents get infection into their households where the elderly and those with co-morbidities can get infected. In view of all this, the country has decided to introduce vaccination for children between 15 and 18 years. There is no special effort required in the implementation of the vaccination.
Further, the official informed that immunization of these children can be started in a short period without specific preparation. It’s a 2-dose schedule given at a 4-week interval and the dosage requirement is the same as the adults. Further, this is a safe vaccine, and even local effects like pain, and swelling in the arms is much less as compared to adults.
