Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has included those who are going abroad for studies and employment purpose, in the prioritised group under the 18-45 years age category for the COVID-19 vaccination.

An immediate decision has been taken in this regard as many foreign countries have made vaccination compulsory for those arriving there for study and job purposes, Health Minister Veena George said here on Tuesday.

Besides them, 10 other categories were also included in the prioritised group and an order was issued for the same, she said.

Field staff of various government departments including food and civil supplies, postal, social justice, Women and Child Development, Fisheries and teachers assigned for the valuation of SSLC, Higher Secondary and Vocational Higher Secondary examinations were among those newly added to the prioritised group.

As many as 32 categories of people belonging to the age group were earlier included in the priority category after considering them as frontline fighters against COVID-19.

"However, there was a demand to include more categories in the priority group. Based on the recommendation of a state level committee, 11 more categories have been added," the minister said.

Vaccination for the prioritised groups in the 18-44 years age category began in Kerala on May 17.

People with co-morbidities, belonging to this age group, were included in the first priority group.

The state government had already issued detailed guidelines for the vaccination of this age group and released the list of co-morbidities to determine the eligibility.

Eligible people had been directed to register in the government website concerned to be included in the priority list, health department sources added.

(With inputs from PTI )