Covid-19 Vaccination: Over 2 crore children in 15-18 age group vaccinated so far

New Delhi: Over 2 crore teenagers in the age group of 15-18 years have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in less than a week of the inoculation drive being launched for children, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Saturday. With the administration of more than 90 lakh (90,59,360) vaccine doses in the past 24 hours, the cumulative number in the country has exceeded 150.61 crore (150,61,92,903), according to provisional reports updated till 7 am.

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"Great Going, my Young Friends. Over 2 crore youngsters between the 15-18 age group have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in less than a week of vaccination drive for children," Mandaviya tweeted.

According to health ministry officials, over 91 per cent of the adult population of the country has received at least one dose of the vaccine while more than 66 per cent have been vaccinated with both the doses.

तेज गति से जारी बच्चों का टीकाकरण ?

Great Going, my Young Friends ?? ??

Over 2 crore youngsters between the 15-18 age group have received their first dose of #COVID19 vaccine in less than a week of vaccination drive for children.#SabkoVaccineMuftVaccine pic.twitter.com/787C2RByHQ

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) January 8, 2022

On January 5, the health minister said that more than 1 crore (1,24,02,515) COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered to children in the 15-18 age group since the inoculation drive began for them on January 3.

The countrywide COVID-19 vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers getting inoculated in the first phase. The vaccination of frontline workers started on February 2. The next phase of vaccination commenced from March 1 for people aged above 60 and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.

The country launched vaccination for all people aged above 45 from April 1. The government then decided to expand the vaccination drive by allowing everyone above the age of 18 to get vaccinated from May 1. The latest phase of COVID-19 vaccination for children aged between 15 and 18 commenced from January 3.