Just 50% kids in 15-17 group jabbed in 3 months

Chandigarh: Covid shots among children have not picked up pace in the city. Since January, when the vaccination was started for 15-17 years old, only 50% have been fully jabbed, while in 12-14 years category, 20% have been jabbed with the first dose in a month.

Health officials have been citing school examinations and most of the children being exposed to the virus as the main reasons for the low turnout. But health experts blame other reasons. “The elderly too have been exposed to the virus, but there was 100% coverage within a few months. However, only 24% have got the booster shots. In children, the severity has been less and moreover by the time the vaccination started for this group, the virus had lost its vigour,” said a public health expert.

For the 12-14 years old beneficiaries, CorBEvax vaccination developed by Hyderabad-based Biological E had been approved. The jabs started from March 16. The targeted population is 45,000 for this group. For the 15-18 years group, where the targeted population in Chandigarh is 72,000, Covaxin has been administered. The drive started on January 3.

The priority age-wise group, where the pace of the vaccination was highest and remained consistent, was in the 60+ years of age with comorbidities. The highest target population is of adults. There are 8,43,000 such residents in the city who have been completely immunised against Covid.