COVID vaccination: Over 3 lakh children registered on Day 1

New Delhi: More than 3 lakh children were enrolled for Covid vaccination as the Co-WIN portal opened for registration on Saturday for children between 15-18.

According to the government portal, 3,26,591 children aged between 15-18, and eligible to get inoculated, were registered on the platform till Saturday 11.59 pm.

According to the guidelines by the Union Government for Covid vaccination for children, both walk-in and online registration will be available.

The vaccination for children will begin from January 3.

According to the guidelines, apart from government ID cards, children can also book slots for vaccination on using their school and college ID cards from January 1.

Children can also register themselves using their parents’ existing Co-WIN accounts or after creating a new account through a unique mobile number.

The Union Health Ministry had earlier said that "children born in 2007 and earlier shall be eligible to receive the vaccine".

On December 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Covid vaccination for children aged 15-18 years will begin from January 3 while the healthcare and frontline workers will start receiving the "precautionary doses" from January 10.

Drug regulatory authority has granted approval to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for vaccination for the age group between 12 and 18 years under restricted emergency use.

Last week, the Centre advised states to set up separate dedicated Covid Vaccination Centres (CVC) for kids.

According to Registrar General and Census Commissioner, around 2.75 crore children, under the age group of 15 to 18 years, are eligible for the vaccination. (UNI)