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New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government at the Center is taking great care before starting the Kovid-19 vaccination campaign for children. This is the reason why scientific advice on vaccination, global trends and articles published in international journals are being looked into.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has told senior officials of the Health Ministry that there should be no hurry in starting the vaccine campaign for children. Sources said the apex panel of experts – the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTGI) – has also been asked to closely examine all the aspects before submitting the final plan for launching the campaign.
Sources said Mandaviya has also asked officials to take “thoughtful small steps” and keep an eye on international trends. Not only this, the Health Minister has asked the officials to study the reasons for the slow pace of vaccination for children in developed countries.
A top official elaborated on Mandaviya’s concerns, saying, “Developed countries have not come forward to vaccinate children. Vaccination of children is a very important decision and we must take all scientific and technical opinion before taking any step.” The health minister is believed to have said he would not allow any “politics or pressure” in the matter of vaccinating children.
Another official, who is part of NTAGI, the apex body that drafts the vaccination plan, echoed similar comments. He said, “The order from above is that there is no haste. We need to take a scientifically sound decision as it is about children, who are the future of our country.”
He added, “We are reading international studies and journals to understand the risks and benefits of vaccinating children. In addition to the study, the panel is reading international trends on how other countries, especially developed countries, are taking steps to vaccinate children against COVID-19.
