The nationwide COVID-19 booster campaign for children aged 12 to 17 years old commenced from today. According to the health ministry, the booster dose is first administered for students of classes X and XII who are appearing for the board exams from the containment centres. Meanwhile, the ministry has administered the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for more than 90 per cent of children aged five to 11 in the last six days.
According to the health ministry, the booster dose for the rest of the children aged 12 to 17 years will be administered after completing the booster vaccination for students of classes X and XII in the containment centres.
Around 27,000 students of classes X and XII appeared for the board exams this time. Of it, more than 20,000 were in containment centres. There are more than 80,000 children aged between 12 and 17 in the country today.
A booster dose is administered to boost the immunity against the Coronavirus infection. However, the efficacy of the booster dose wanes after six months.
Meanwhile, more than 96 per cent or 80,000 children aged five to 11 have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The ministry said that the COVID vaccination for these children will continue even after the campaign.
The ministry further added that the health teams have not received any complaints of major side effects during the week-long vaccination programme. The ministry plans to administer the second dose of the COVID vaccine for these children next month.
Experts have recommended that 90 per cent of the population must be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity.
Sonam Tenzin
