The BMC instructed ward offices to compile a list of eligible beneficiaries aged 15 to 18 years old for COVID-19 Vaccination

The BMC has asked all ward officers to make a list of eligible beneficiaries in each ward a day after Prime Minister Modi said that youngsters aged 15 to 18 can be vaccinated in the New Year (beginning January 3). In Mumbai alone, there are about nine lakh youngsters in this group. Officials said they'll begin to work as soon as the center's recommendations are issued and the vaccine stock that has to be distributed is provided. Given the recent surge in the number of cases, health experts have praised PM's timing, which does not bode well for the future. Since the beginning of the epidemic, 37,549 youngsters aged 10 to 19 have contracted Covid.

The emphasis will be on children, according to Suresh Kakani, Additional Municipal Commissioner, after the ICMR rules are in place and the Centre has a plan in place to vaccinate children aged 15 to 18. "Before moving forward with our plans, we are awaiting new guidelines from the Centre and the ICMR. Meanwhile, we're gathering data on the youngsters in each unit and determining how many of them have a comorbidity," he explained. The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) and the state pediatric task group recently advised the Centre to begin vaccinating children. "By vaccination them, we will prevent the spread of infection, as they tend to disseminate the virus to other members of their family." Why not vaccinate them for the greater good of the public? "Dr. Bakul Parekh, national president of IAP and a member of the ACVIP, said as much.

"Such children are at a higher risk of contracting a serious infection. If vaccination supplies are limited, they should be immunized first. However, if there is a sufficient supply of vaccines for youngsters, the entire population should be vaccinated "Dr. Parekh stated. Vaccination is an important defence technique to battle the changing COVID19 virus, according to Dr. Rahul Pandit, Director, Critical Care, Fortis Hospitals, Mumbai, and member of the national and state COVID-19 task forces. It's a smart strategic decision to beef up our defences before a possible third wave arrives. People must recognize that authorities are doing all possible to stop the spread, minimize the impact, and protect citizens.

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