THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister Veena George on Tuesday said that the state has begun preparations to provide vaccines for children aged 15 years and above. She also said that the health department has initiated steps to provide precaution doses for healthcare workers (HCWs), frontline workers (FLWs) and citizens above 60 years of age with comorbidities.

"Special arrangements will be made at vaccination centres for vaccination for children. Vaccination for children should not be mixed with vaccination for adults. Authorities will take all safety precautions as children are taking vaccines for the first time. Children will be monitored before and after vaccination to ensure their health. The Centre has informed that children in the 15-18 years age group will be given Covaxin. Nearly 15 lakh children come under this category. People should ensure that all children get vaccinated in the context of Omicron spread," Veena George said.

The health department will provide precaution doses for HCWs, FLWs and citizens above 60 years of age with comorbidities as per the guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry. The prioritisation and sequencing of the precaution dose would be based on the completion of nine months from the date of administration of the second dose, which is 39 weeks.

Over 98 percent of the eligible population in the state have been administered the first dose of the vaccine, while 78 percent have been administered the second dose. More than 4.67 crore people have been administered two doses of the vaccine.