Guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination of children between 12-14 years of age

India's National COVID Vaccination Program is built on scientific and epidemiological evidence, WHO guidelines and global best practices. The program started with the vaccination of health care workers (HCWs) and frontline workers (FLWs). The program ambit expanded in a phased manner, with the inclusion of all individuals aged 18 years and above from 1^st May 2021. The program coverage was further expanded to children 15 to 18 years of age from 3^rd January 2022 and administration of precaution dose to HCWs, FLWs and people aged 60+ years with comorbidities based on medical advice from 10^th January 2022. All fully vaccinated adult citizens (18+ and have taken 2 doses) are eligible for precaution dose from 10/04/2022.

Keeping in mind the evolving situation of the Covid-19 pandemic and the emerging evidence, the expert group has decided to expand Covid-19 vaccination program to children aged 12 to 14 years from March 2022. Corbevax and Covovax are available for beneficiaries in the age group of 12 - 17 years and Covaxin is available for Children of the age group of 15-18 yrs.

Vaccine Characteristics

• Vaccine Brand Name: SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) Vaccine [CorBEvax^TM]
• Manufacturer's Name : Biological E.Limited, Telangana, India
• Vaccine Type : Protein sub-unit
• Doses per vial : 20 doses
• Each dose : 0.5 ml
• Frequency of dose : 2 doses at an interval of 28 days
• Mode of administration : Intramuscular
• Storage Temperature : +2 to +8⁰C
• Shelf Life : 12 months from the date of manufacture

Operationalization

As the 12 to 14 years' age group constitutes school-going children, complimentary strategies may be formulated to ensure vaccination of all eligible beneficiaries in this age group, irrespective of whether they are enrolled in state/central government schools, aided/unaided private schools or other non- formal schools like madrasas etc. are covered with strict adherence to the operational guidelines for Covid19 vaccination.

Management and reporting of AEFIs will be as per existing guidelines. Anaphylaxis kits must be available with each vaccination teams.

Vaccine will be administered to only those children who have attained the age of 12 years on the date of vaccination. The vaccinator and verifier will be responsible to ensure that any beneficiary aged less than 12 years on the date of vaccination is not vaccinated with special attention to those born in 2010.

Recording and reporting of vaccination for this age group will be on CoWIN as per the existing guidelines.

Co-WIN features and provisions for beneficiaries aged 12-14 years

• All beneficiaries born in year 2010 or earlier i.e. those who have already attained age of 12 years as will be able to register on CoWIN.
• Vaccinator has to ensure that vaccine is administered to only those children who have completed the age of 12 years on the date of vaccination and if a child is registered but not attained age of 12 years the vaccination is not to be given.
• Registration can be done through the following modes:
  • Self-registration through an existing account on Co-WIN of a family member or by creating a new account through a unique mobile number (this facility is available for all eligible citizens presently).
  • Onsite registration by the vaccinator in facilitated registration mode
• Appointments can be booked online or onsite (walk-in) for 12-14 years.
• Vaccination of 12-14 years would be conducted through dedicated vaccination sessions (i.e. earmarked COVID-19 Vaccination Centers for vaccination of 12-14 years' age-group) to avoid their unintended vaccination with any other COVID-19 vaccines.

Source : MOHFW