New Delhi [India], March 15 (ANI): The primary focus was immunisation of children with comorbidities but due to the unavailability of data of such children, we have decided to open immunization for all the children between the age group of 12-15 years, said Dr NK Arora, Chairman of COVID-19 Working Group of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI).

New Delhi [India], February 8 (ANI): Covaxin has been granted approval for emergency use in 13 countries as of January 31, 2022, according to the WHO, said Minister of State (MoS) for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar in Lok Sabha on February 4.

New Delhi [India], January 11 (ANI): Molnupiravir, an oral antiviral drug used in the treatment of COVID-19 should not be administered to the younger population as it adversely affects their reproductive system, said Dr NK Arora, Chairman of COVID-19 Working Group of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI).

New Delhi [India], January 11 (ANI): With the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, India is likely to witness a sharp spike in the number of cases in the coming days, however, following COVID appropriate behaviour and vaccination could help contain the spread of the disease, noted a top health expert.

New Delhi [India], January 6 (ANI): In view of the surging COVID cases, the Centre has informed the Delhi High Court that it has decided to further refine the scientific prioritisation and coverage of COVID-19 vaccination, including that for children aged 15-18 years and the precaution dose.

New Delhi Dec 27 PTI The vaccine option against COVID-19 for children in the age group of 15-18 years who will be inoculated from January 3 would be Covaxin only according to new guidelines issued by the Union health ministry on MondayThe prioritisation and sequencing of the precaution dose third dose for healthcare workers HCWs frontline workers FLWs and citizens above 60 years of age with comorbidities would be based on completion of nine months from the date of administration of second dose which is 39 weeks the guidelines which will come into effect from January 3 statedThey will be able to access vaccination for the precaution dose through their existing Co-WIN account The Centre will hold a meeting with states and union territories on December 28 through video conferencing to discuss the framework for implementing the children vaccination programme and the precaution dose for HCWs FLWs and senior citizensEligibility for the precaution dose will be based on the date of administration of the second dose as recorded in the Co-WIN system which will send an SMS for availing the precaution dose when it becomes due the ministry informed Registration and appointment services can be accessed through online and onsite modes and details of administration of the precaution dose will reflect in vaccination certificates according to the guidelines The guidelines however do not mention which vaccine would be given as third dose or precaution doseThose aged 15 years or more will be able to register on Co-WIN In other words all those whose birth year is 2007 or before shall be eligible according to the Guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination of children between 15-18 years and precaution dose to HCWs FLWs and 60 population with comorbidities Beneficiaries can self-register online through an existing Co-WIN account or create a new account through a mobilephone number This facility is available for eligible citizens only They can be also registered onsite by a verifier or vaccinator in the facilitated registration mode the ministry stated On vaccination of children the guidelines said For such beneficiaries option for vaccination would only be available for Covaxin as this is the only vaccine with EUL emergency use listing for the age-group 15-17 The ministry said that as a matter of abundant precaution for those HCWs FLWs who have received two doses another dose of COVID-19 vaccine would be provided from January 10People aged 60 years and above with comorbidities who have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine will on doctors advice be provided with the precaution dose from January 10 it said The prioritisation and sequencing of this precaution dose would be based on the completion of nine months ie 39 weeks from the date of administration of second dose the guidelines statedCitizens irrespective of their income status are entitled to free COVID-19 vaccination at Government Vaccination Centres Those who have the ability to pay are encouraged to use private hospitals vaccination centres the ministry saidKeeping in view the recent global surge in COVID-19 cases detection of the Omicron variant that has been categorised Variant of Concern scientific evidence global practices and inputs of the COVID-19 Working Group of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization as well as of the Standing Technical Scientific Committee of NTAGI it has now been decided to further refine the scientific prioritisation and coverage of vaccination the guidelines stated The guidelines document stated that 90 per cent of the adult population of the country has been covered with at least one dose and 62 per cent with both doses The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with HCWs getting inoculated in the first phase Vaccination of FLWs started from February 2The next phase of COVID-19vaccinationcommenced from March 1 for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditionsThe country launched vaccinationfor all people aged more than 45 years from April 1 PTI PLB ANB ANB ANB

New Delhi Dec 27 PTI The vaccine option against COVID-19 for children in the age group of 15-18 years who will be inoculated from January 3 would be Covaxin only according to new guidelines issued by the Union health ministry on MondayThe prioritisation and sequencing of the precaution dose third dose for healthcare workers HCWs frontline workers FLWs and citizens above 60 years of age with comorbidities would be based on completion of nine months from the date of administration of second dose which is 39 weeks the guidelines which will come into effect from January 3 statedHCWs FLWs and citizens aged 60 years or above with comorbidities will be able to access vaccination for the precaution dose through their existing Co-WIN account Eligibility for the precaution dose will be based on the date of administration of the second dose as recorded in the Co-WIN system which will send an SMS for availing the precaution dose when it becomes due the ministry informed Registration and appointment services can be accessed through online and onsite modes and details of administration of the precaution dose will reflect in vaccination certificates according to the guidelines Those aged 15 years or more will be able to register on Co-WIN In other words all those whose birth year is 2007 or before shall be eligible according to the Guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination of children between 15-18 years and precaution dose to HCWs FLWs and 60 population with comorbidities Beneficiaries can self-register online through an existing Co-WIN account or create a new account through a mobilephone number This facility is available for all eligible citizens only They can be also registered onsite by a verifier or vaccinator in the facilitated registration mode the ministry stated On vaccination of children the guidelines said For such beneficiaries option for vaccination would only be available for Covaxin as this is the only vaccine with EUL emergency use listing for the age-group 15-17 The ministry said that as a matter of abundant precaution for those HCWs FLWs who have received two doses another dose of COVID-19 vaccine would be provided from January 10People aged 60 years and above with comorbidities who have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine will on doctors advice be provided with the precaution dose from January 10 it said The prioritisation and sequencing of this precaution dose would be based on the completion of nine months ie 39 weeks from the date of administration of second dose the guidelines statedCitizens irrespective of their income status are entitled to free COVID-19 vaccination at Government Vaccination Centres Those who have the ability to pay are encouraged to use private hospitals vaccination centres the ministry saidKeeping in view the recent global surge in COVID-19 cases detection of the Omicron variant that has been categorised Variant of Concern scientific evidence global practices and inputs of the COVID-19 Working Group of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization as well as of the Standing Technical Scientific Committee of NTAGI it has now been decided to further refine the scientific prioritisation and coverage of vaccination the guidelines stated PTI PLB ANB ANB

New Delhi [India], December 26 (ANI): Covaxin has shown that it has a very good immune response in children in trials, Chairman of India's COVID-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) Dr NK Arora said on Sunday.

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 9 (ANI): Chairman of India's COVID-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) Dr N K Arora said that COVID appropriate behaviour is very important to follow, during the forthcoming festive season.