Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Booster doses for frontline workers, as well as co-morbid patients aged 60 years and up after consultations from the doctor, will be given from January 10

Modi assured that soon the country will develop nasal vaccine and the world’s first DNA vaccine

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, in an address to the nation,announced that vaccination will start for the children in the age group of 15-18 years from Jan 3.The move is likely to aid in education normalization in schools and will reduce the worry of the parents with school going children.

On Saturday, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had given emergency use authorisation to Bharat Biotech for use of Covaxin for children above 12 years.

He also announced precaution dose for healthcare and frontline workers from 10th January. This has been done in the light of the amount of time that the frontline workers and health care workers spend in the service of Covid patients.

Modi also unveiled plans to provide option of booster doses that will be available for senior citizens above 60 years of age with co-morbidities on the advice of their doctors from 10th January.

Referring to the Omicron infections In India, the Prime Minister asked people not to panic and to follow precautions such as masks and washing hands repeatedly.

Modi said that the global experience of fighting the pandemic has told that following all guidelines is the biggest weapons in the fight against Corona. Second weapon is vaccination, he said.

Modi informed that the vaccination campaign started on 16th January this year has crossed the mark of 141 crore doses.61 percent of the adult population of the country has received both the vaccines and 90 percent adults have received one dose.

India has 30 million health and frontline workers in the country and 8.1 per cent of the people in the country are aged 60 and above.

He informed that today the country has 18 lakh isolation beds, 5 lakh oxygen supported beds, 1 lakh 40 thousand ICU beds, 90 thousand ICU and Non ICU beds specially for children, more than 3 thousand PSA oxygen plants, 4 lakh oxygen cylinders and support to states is being provided for buffer doses and testing.

As the virus is mutating, our capability and confidence to face the challenge is also multiplying along with our innovative spirit.

Modi assured that soon the country will develop nasal vaccine and the world’s first DNA vaccine.

The Prime Minister emphasized that India’s fight against Corona has, from the very beginning, based on scientific principles, scientific consultation and scientific method.

He cautioned that Corona has not gone and alertness is of paramount importance. He also cautioned against the efforts to spread rumours, confusion and fear.