Lok Sabha Question No. 503 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Vaccination of Children
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Supriya Sadanand Sule, Rakesh Singh, Manoj Rajoria, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Ravneet Singh, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Kotagiri Sridhar, Vijayakumar (alias) Vijay Vasanth, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 503 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 4 TH  FEBRUARY    2022

## VACCINATION OF CHILDREN

## 503. SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

DR. MANOJ RAJORIA:

DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S:

SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITU:

SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI:

SHRI VIJAY KUMAR (ALIAS) VIJAYA VASANTH:

SHRI SUNIL DATTARAY TATKARE:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  total  number  of  covid-19  first  and  second  dose  of  vaccination  administered  to beneficiaries along with the target set to prevent the spread of Covid-19 among children;
- (b) whether the Government has started the vaccination of children in the age group of 15-18 years and taken steps to expedite vaccination among children below 15 years, if so, the details thereof and the vaccine tested and found safe for use among children age group 1518 and those below 15 years;
- (c) whether  the  vaccination  drive  for  children  in  the  age  group  of  15  to  18  years  will  be extended to villages and remote areas and if so, details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to give booster dose of vaccination to entire population including frontline and healthcare workers of the country to combat covid-19 disease and if so, the details thereof and the challenges faced in carrying out overall vaccination during the last two years;
- (e) whether  Government  has  ascertained  the  number  of  ventilators  and  oxygen  beds  in  the country, if so, the details thereof along with the action taken to prevent the recent increase in Covid-19; and
- (f) the number of people affected/suffered and died due to Omicron Variant of Covid-19 in the recent months and the steps taken to ensure in-house vaccination to terminally ill, bedridden and senior citizens?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

- (a) to (d) Vaccination of children in the age group of 15-18 years has begun from 3 rd January 2022 across the country, including villages and remote areas. As on 1 st February 2022, against

the estimated population of about 7.40 crore beneficiaries aged 15-18 years, around 4.66 crore (63%) beneficiaries have received 1 st dose and 3.59 Lakhs (0.5%) beneficiaries have received 2 nd dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Two Covid-19 vaccines have received approval for Restricted Use in Emergency Situation in India  for  use  in  persons  aged  12  years  &  above,  namely  Covaxin  by  Bharat  Biotech International Ltd. and ZyCoV-D by Zydus Cadila.

The  administration  of  precaution  dose  to  Health  Care  Workers,  Front  Line  Workers  and persons  aged  60 years  and  above  has  started  under  National  COVID-19  Vaccination Programme from 10 th January  2022.  Any  decision  on  extension  of  eligible  beneficiaries  for precaution dose and vaccination of children below 15 years of age is as per the recommendations of The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) on the basis of review of available scientific evidences.

Regular review of COVID-19 vaccination is carried out at National, State and District level to identify various challenges for COVID-19 vaccination to devise corrective measures.

(e) & (f) Union Ministry of Health & FW is keeping a close watch over evolving COVID-19 scenario in the country and has been in regular interaction with the States/UTs. Union Ministry of  Health  has  coordinated  and  supported  States  to  upgrade  and strengthen  the  health infrastructure and requisite logistics to manage COVID-19 pandemic. Various initiatives have been initiated by the Government to provide technical guidance and further strengthen health infrastructure, clinical management of COVID-19, availability of essential logistics including drugs and medical oxygen supply to manage COVID-19.

As  on  1st  February  2022,  as  reported  by  States/UTs,  there  are  a  total  of  5,18,005  oxygen supported isolation beds and 64,737 ventilators earmarked for COVID-19 treatment.

Omicron variant is the dominant variant in the country presently. The total number of COVID19 cases in the month of December 2021 is 2,50,982 and January 2022 is 64,63,636 and deaths reported in the country during the months of December 2021 is 12,100 and January 2022 is 13,970.

To  ensure  Covid-19  vaccination  of  bed-ridden  persons  and  those  with  restricted  mobility, advisory was issued to all States/UTs for vaccination at the place of residence of persons who might be bed-ridden or  have  extremely  restricted  mobility  or  disability  and/or  special  needs that  may  hamper  their  accessibility  even  to  Near  to  Home  Covid  Vaccination  Centres (NHCVCs).  In  addition,  Har  Ghar  Dastak  vaccination  campaign  was  initiated  from  3 rd November 2021, wherein missed beneficiaries for 1 st dose and due beneficiaries for 2 nd dose are identified and vaccinated through house to house activity.

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