Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said India has already reported 41 cases of Omicron variant and the government should begin preparations of every kind to deal with the challenge
New Delhi:
Lok Sabha members on Tuesday cautioned the Modi government on the challenges posed by the rising cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19, and asked it to spell out plans for administering booster dose of vaccination.
Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said India has already reported 41 cases of Omicron variant and the government should begin preparations of every kind to deal with the challenge.
Chowdhury also wanted the government to spell out its plans for vaccination of children and adolescents, noting that European Union nations have already started giving jabs to children.
“Tentacle of Omicron has been spreading in other States also,” he said and asked the government to be alert.
Trinamool Congress member Saugata Roy wanted the government to start administering booster doses immediately.
“Booster doses for COVID-19 should be started. Because of some differences within the expert committee, booster dose is not being given,” Roy said.
Roy said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has already declared Omicron as an emergency and cases were on the rise in London.
“We are all scared, the third wave will happen and we will be caught unawares,” Roy said.
Trinamool member Kalyan Banerjee noted that Britain had already reported the first death due to Omicron variant.
“Can you tell us what measures have been taken by the central government to come out of this,” Banerjee said.
Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has said over 55 per cent of India’s adult population has received both the doses of COVID-19 vaccine, said on Tuesday.
According to Health Ministry officials, 55.52 per cent of the eligible population has been fully vaccinated with 87 per cent people receiving the first dose of the vaccine.
In a tweet, Mandaviya said that with over 55 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated now, India has achieved another milestone in its fight against Covid. PM Narendra Modii’s ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ campaign has further strengthened the nation’s collective fight against COVID-19.
With the administration of 66,98,601 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 133.88 crore, according to provisional reports till 7 am.
This has been achieved through 1,40,27,706 sessions, the ministry said.