Vaccination for 15-18 age group from Jan 3; booster for healthcare, frontline workers from Jan 10

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked citizens to remain vigilant against Covid but not to panic, as he announced starting of vaccination for children between 15 to 18, and booster doses for healthcare and frontline workers.

In an address to the nation late on Saturday night, Prime Minister Modi talked about India's preparedness in the war against Covid and announced that vaccination would now be provided to the 15 - 18 years age group starting from January 3.

Precaution or booster doses of vaccine will start from January 10, 2022, for healthcare and frontline workers, and also for those above 60 years of age, with comorbidities on the recommendation of a doctor. The Prime Minister also announced that India will soon have the world's first nasal vaccine against Covid, and first DNA vaccine as well.

Asking citizens to remain vigilant and not to panic, the Prime Minister said Covid cases have been rising across the world after the emergence of the new Omicron variant. He added that as the virus mutates, the fight against Covid is also getting stronger.

The Prime Minister stressed following Covid related protocol and expanding the vaccination drive. "I urge everyone not to panic. Be careful, stay alert, use masks, and clean your hands at short intervals," the Prime Minister said. "Today as the virus is mutating, our capability and confidence to deal with the challenges are also multiplying."

Amid rising concerns over the new variant Omicron, PM Modi said India has 18 Lakh isolation beds, 5 lakh oxygen supported beds, 1,40,000 ICU beds, while 90,000 beds are specially for children. He said there are over 3,000 PSA oxygen plants, over 4 lakh oxygen cylinders have been given, and states are also being helped in creating a buffer stock of medicines and being provided a sufficient number of testing kits. "The experience of the fight with Covid so far tells that at a personal level, following protocols is the weapon to fight Corona. The second weapon is the vaccine," Modi said.

The PM said understanding the seriousness of Covid-19, India started working on mission mode quite early. "Along with research on vaccine, we also worked on approval processes, supply chain, distribution, training, IT support system, and certification processes... It was because of the preparedness, India started giving vaccines to its citizens on January 16 this year. It is the collective effort and willpower of the citizens, that India has crossed the ambitious and unprecedented goal of administering 141 Crore vaccine dose," he said.

He said over 61 per cent of adults have received both doses of vaccine so far, while around 90% of adults have received at least one dose of vaccine. Making the much-awaited announcement about vaccination for children and the beginning of giving booster doses, the Prime Minister said, "Vaccination will now start for children between age 15 and 18 years. It will start from January 3, 2022" "This decision will strengthen the fight against Covid and address the concerns of parents," he said.

He also said the government has decided to start 'precaution dose' of the Covid vaccine for healthcare and frontline workers from January 10, 2022. Option of precaution dose of vaccine will be made available to those above 60 years, with comorbidities, on the recommendation of doctors from January 10 as well. The announcement for the Prime Minister's address to the nation was made around 9.30 pm by the Prime Minister's Office in a tweet. PM Modi greeted citizens on Christmas and for New Year and stressed that all precautions should be practiced.