Union health minister Covid-19 vaccination for children may begin from next month

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday said the Covid-19 vaccine for children is expected to be launched in the country from August. Mansukh Mandaviya gave the information at the BJP Parliamentary party meeting, also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He had said, “We would likely begin vaccinating children from next month.” The statement comes at a time when it is widely speculated that impact of a possible third COVID wave on children is likely to be higher as compared to the first or the second wave.

And, absence of vaccines for children adds to the woes. Meanwhile, noting that Covid vaccines becoming available for children would be a milestone achievement, AIIMS Chief Dr Randeep Guleria last week told media, it would pave the way for the reopening of schools and the resumption of outdoor activities for them.

He said, “In the coming weeks or by September, vaccines should be available for children. We should then start schools in a graded manner as we have been doing for 18-45 years age and that also will give more protection to kids and more confidence to the public that children are safe.”