new Delhi: The Kovid-19 vaccination of children in the age group of 12 to 14 years is starting from today. Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company Biological E’s Corbevax is the only COVID-19 vaccine that will be given to this age group.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in a tweet on Wednesday that the Kovid vaccination of children of 12 to 14 years has started from today.
Taking forward the Kovid vaccination campaign, PM Narendra Modi under the leadership of G.#SabkoVaccineMuftVaccineUnder the campaign, the Kovid vaccination of children in the age group of 12-14 has started from today.
All people of 60+ age will also be able to get precaution dose from today.
Let’s secure the country together, get the vaccine. pic.twitter.com/sz0eg4zObD
— Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) 16 March 2022
The Health Minister also wrote that all people above 60 years of age will be able to get a precautionary dose from today. Mandaviya wrote, “Let’s protect the country together, get vaccinated.”
According to the Health Minister, India has so far fully immunized more than two crore adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years.
Corbevax is India’s third indigenous COVID-19 vaccine after Covaxin and Zydus Cadila’s ZyCoV-D.
Read also | Explained: Organic E’s Corbevax Approved for ages 12-18. Here’s How the Vaccine Works
Biological E’s Corbevax is India’s first indigenously developed receptor-binding domain (RBD) protein sub-unit vaccine against Covid-19. The RBD is a part of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. The virus uses spike proteins to attach itself to host cells.
Who will fall in this category for vaccination?
After consultations with scientific bodies, the government has decided to introduce COVID-19 vaccination for children in the age group of 12 to 13 years and 13 to 14 years from March 16, 2022, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a statement.
Sources told news agency PTI that around 7.11 crore children will be vaccinated under the new age group.
How children aged 12-14 years can register for vaccination and older citizens can register for precautionary doses
- Firstly, Open the Co-Win Portal using the link www.cowin.gov.in
- Then click on the “Register/Sign In” tab to register your child for COVID-19 vaccination
- Log in with phone number and OTP received
- If you are using the same phone number with which you have previously registered for vaccination, click on the Add Member button in the upper right corner. If you’re using a new phone number, tap the Add Member button directly.
- In case of children, you will be asked to upload some documents like Aadhar card, PAN card etc. In the absence of documents, children can also upload the school ID card for registration.
- For elderly people, their eligibility will be based on the date of administration of the second dose as entered in the Co-Win system.
- Verification for the elderly would preferably be done using Aadhaar.
- Elderly citizens can also use passport, driving license, PAN card, smart card issued by RGI under NPR or pension documents with photographs.
- After this an OTP will be sent to your number. You will need to verify.
- Once the verification is done, start booking your slot by entering the location, pincode, etc. and then tap/click on Book Appointment.
How does the RBD protein sub-unit vaccine work?
The RBD protein sub-unit vaccine is one that induces protective immunity by targeting the RBD of the S protein of SARS-CoV-2, which is a harmless protein. The vaccine contains residues of the RBD protein.
The immune system recognizes the S protein, and produces antibodies and defensive white blood cells. These antibodies will fight the virus if the person becomes infected with the Kovid-19 virus in the future.
An RBD protein sub-unit vaccine, like Corbex, helps the immune system recognize the S protein and make antibodies.
Earlier this month, Biologicals E applied for an EUA for Corbevax for children aged five to 12 years.
On February 21, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) approved Corbevax for emergency use to vaccinate adolescents aged 12-18 years. Biologicals E said in a statement that Corbevax has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from DCGI for the age group 12 to 18.
Last year, on December 28, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) approved Corbevax for restricted use in emergency situations in adults.
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