Over 2 crore adolescents fully vaccinated against Covid-19

NEW DELHI: Over two crore adolescents, accounting for around 28% of those in the 15-18 years age group, are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19, bringing some relief to parents amid reopening of schools and academic institutions.

A total of around 72% youngsters between 15-18 years have initiated vaccination with at least first dose of Covaxin – which is the only vaccine currently being administered under the government’s Covid immunisation programme.

“Young India taking the world's largest vaccination drive to the next level! Over 2 crore youngsters between 15-18 age group are now fully vaccinated against #COVID19” health minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted.


With around 7.40 crore adolescents estimated between 15-18 years age, this is considered to be the most vulnerable or at risk category among those below 18 years age. Experts say maximum number of deaths due to Covid-19 in children have been in this age group.

The government introduced vaccination for those between 15-18 years old from January 3, immediately after Covaxin received the regulatory approval for use among children above 12 years age.

While initially it got an enthusiastic response from youngsters with over two crore doses given in the first week of the programme itself. However, the pace of the vaccination in this category slowed down in following weeks, particularly among those due for their second dose.

Officials say the slowdown was partly because of a lot of youngsters getting infected with Omicron variant as there was also an uptick in Covid-19 cases in January. Those who got infected had to delay vaccination by three months.

Limited supply of Covaxin has also been a constraint for the government, particularly to expand the programme, sources say.

Apart from being used in youngsters of 15-18 years, Covaxin is also being used in adult immunisation programme and as ‘precaution dose’ for health, frontline workers and elderly above 60 years of age who have completed two doses of Covaxin nine months ago.