New Delhi: Children between 15 and 18 years will be vaccinated from 3 January and ‘precaution doses’ (boosters) will be given to healthcare and frontline workers from 10 January, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Saturday.
He also said those with comorbidities and above 60 years of age will be eligible for precaution doses on the recommendation of their doctors from 10 January.
In his address to the nation at 9:45pm, PM said the decision has been taken in consultation with scientific advisers.
Speaking about the rise of Omicron cases, the PM cautioned everyone to not panic and wear masks and maintain social distancing.
“Covid is not yet gone, it is important to still be careful and exercise caution”, he said.
He also said the rollout of nasal vaccine and the world’s first DNA Covid vaccine will soon start in India.
On Covid preparedness
Speaking about the preparation for the pandemic, Modi said that at present the country has 18 lakh isolation beds, 5 lakh oxygen supported beds and over 1.4 lakh ICU beds to tackle Covid cases.
“India has 18 lakh isolation beds, 5 lakh oxygen supported beds, 1.40 lakh ICU beds, 90,000 pediatric ICU & non-ICU beds. We have more than 3,000 working PSA oxygen plants, 4 lakh oxygen cylinders have been distributed throughout the nation”, he said.
PM Modi also praised health workers as well as citizens for a successful vaccination campaign for the past 11 months.
“The vaccination process started on 16 January and since then more than 61 per cent of the population has got both doses of the vaccine. While 91 per cent of the population has gotten a single dose”, he said.
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