New Delhi, Dec 31 :Covid vaccination among children in the national capital will roll out at the centres where Covaxin is under supply, sources told UNI.

The vaccination drive will take place at dedicated Covid Vaccination Centres (CVC) where Covaxin is being used for inoculation, they added.

“Our designated CVCs will be used to roll out the paediatric vaccination programme. We have around 600 such sites and the vaccination will take place where Covaxin is already under supply since it has been only approved to inoculate the eligible children so far,” a senior health official told UNI.

According to the sources, separate counters for vaccination will be created for the children at the vaccination centres.

“Since these vaccination centres are already being used to vaccinate population above 18, separate counters will be created for the children so that social distancing can be maintained,” the official said.

The decision was taken after a meeting held on Thursday between officials of the Delhi government’s health department to chart out guidelines for paediatric vaccination.

According to the officials, a multi-prong approach will be taken in paediatric vaccination which includes vaccinating children at schools themselves.

“However, schools are closed currently due to Covid GRAP restrictions. We will deliberate further on implementing this plan after the schools reopen,” the senior official said.

India will start administering Covid-19 vaccine to children in the age group of 15-18 years from January 3 next year.

The Centre has announced that Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin as the only vaccine that will be administered to eligible recipients in the age group of 15-18 years.

According to the Union Health Ministry, “children born in 2007 and earlier shall be eligible to receive the vaccine.”

Estimates from Registrar General and Census Commissioner states that more than 10 lakh children in Delhi are eligible for Covid vaccination while the figure crosses 2.75 crores nationally.

Children can book a slot using their parents’ existing Co-WIN accounts or after creating a new account through a unique mobile number. The online registration will start on January 1st.

Children could also be registered onsite by the verifier or vaccinator at the vaccination centre, according to the health ministry’s guidelines.(UNI)