New Delhi: Over 40 lakh children between 15-18 age group received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine on the first day of vaccination drive for children, said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.


"Well done Young India! Over 40 Lakhs between 15-18 age group received their first dose of #COVID19 vaccine on the 1st day of vaccination drive for children, till 8 PM. This is another feather in the cap of India’s vaccination drive," Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted.


"Today we have taken an important step forward in protecting our youth against COVID-19. Congrats to all my young friends between the age group of 15-18 who got vaccinated. Congrats to their parents as well. I would urge more youngsters to get vaccinated in the coming days!" he further said.



According to the guidelines issued by Union Health Ministry, all those whose birth year is 2007 or before, shall be eligible for Covid vaccine in the country. 


Most of the schools and other educational institutions are being used as inoculation centres for those between 15-18 years as the government has advised states to make separate Covid vaccination centres (CVCs) for children and adults.


Day 1 Of Vaccination For 15-18 Yrs Teens: How It Panned Out In Various States


Delhi


Amid the scare of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, the vaccination drive for the 15 to 18 age group began at 169 vaccination centres across Delhi on Monday. According to reports, various private hospitals, too, have geared up for this phase of the exercise.


Several teenagers in the capital city have registered on the COWIN portal and will be getting their jabs later this week.


Maharashtra


In a unique way, Covid vaccination for children in the 15-18 age group began in Maharashtra with the teenagers being offered flowers, pens and masks after taking the jabs in Pune.


Meanwhile, the Mumbai civic body launched a free inoculation drive for the children. Mumbai civic body also said that along with children from the BMC-run schools, vaccines will be given free of cost to children of other schools as well.


Karnataka


The Covid vaccination drive for adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years with a target of reaching 31.75 lakh beneficiaries in the state was launched by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday.


On the first day, the government plans to vaccinate around six lakh children in over 4,000 sessions.


With an existing stock of 16 lakh doses of Covaxin available, all the districts in the state have geared up for the vaccination drive. 


Chhattisgarh


Vaccination for teenagers also kicked off in Chhattisgarh on Monday with the administration setting up as many as 2,452 inoculation centres in various colleges, schools and hospitals across the state.


However, a report by PTI stated that many teenagers were hesitant of getting themselves vaccinated because of "side effects". However, they overcame their unsureness after getting counselling from their friends and family members. 


Uttarakhand


The Covid vaccination drive for adolescents aged 15-18 years was launched by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday. 


During the launch, Dhami said that a total of 6,28,000 children in the state in the 15-18 age group will be administered the vaccine doses during the drive.


Students in the age group of 15-18 who are from outside Uttarakhand but studying in the state will also be vaccinated as part of the drive.


Himachal Pradesh


Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday launched from Mandi the Covid-19 vaccination campaign in the state for children in the age group of 15 to 18 years.


The CM has appealed to the people to come forward for anti-Covid inoculation to protect themselves from the virus. About 3.57 lakh youngsters in the age group of 15-18 years are eligible for vaccination in the hill state.


A total of 4,259 educational institutions would be covered under this vaccination campaign.