TS children between 15-18 yrs can register through CoWin for COVID-19 vaccine

Hyderabad: The Telangana government will allow children in the age group of 15-18 in all municipal corporation areas to register for the COVID-19 vaccine through CoWin. Bookings will be open for government centers in primary health centers, medical colleges, and district hospitals. For non-municipal corporation areas, children can walk in and take the vaccine at all government vaccine centers.

The announcement was made by state health minister T. Harish Rao during the celebrations to mark Telangana becoming the first large state to vaccinate 100 per cent of its population with the first dose.

There are around 22.78 lakh children aged 15-18 years in the state, 41.60 lakh people above 60 years of age, and 6.34 lakh healthcare and frontline warriors who will be vaccinated in the next phase. The government said arrangements are being made to vaccinate those aged 15-18 from 3 January and those aged 60 and above from 10 January.

The government has identified 44 categories for booster doses which will be administered from 10 January.

"We will first start vaccination in PHCs in Hyderabad as well as municipalities and then in local hospitals. After that, we will give it to the village level. Municipalities' population must register on the CoWin portal. In other areas, you can go directly to the vaccination center and get vaccinated," said Mr. Rao.

He added that Telangana has set a record in the country as the first large state to complete the 100% of the first dose. "So far, only eight small states and Union Territories like Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, and Sikkim have achieved this feat," he said.

He said the health department in coordination with the municipal, panchayat, and other departments helped the state reach this milestone. He thanked the district collectors, district medical officers, and municipal and panchayat officials for making the vaccination programme a success. "Special thanks to the ANM, Asha workers, and other staff who stay at the field level and even go to the base areas and vaccinate people," the minister said.

Mr. Rao said the goal is to vaccinate every eligible person with both doses and protect them from the virus. There are 7,970 vaccination teams operating across the state and a total of 5.55 crore doses will be administered, he said adding that vaccination is being carried out in 3,500 government centers and 264 private centers.

So far 100% of the first dose and 66% of the second dose have been completed in TS. The national average is 90% for the first dose and 63% for the second dose. Besides, 87% of vaccinations were done in government centers and 13% in private centers. The minister said there was no shortage of vaccines in the state and 30 lakh doses are currently stored.