Booster Dose & Vaccination For Children -All You Need To Know

On Saturday, on the occasion of X-MAS, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an ‘Address to the nation’ announced to begin the vaccination for children between the age group of 15-18 years old from January 3, 2022. Amid the rising Omicron cases in the country, the PM also said that the ‘precaution doses’ will be administered to the healthcare and frontline workers as well as the senior citizens over 60 years of age with comorbidities from January 10,2022.

The PM in his announcement emphasised the importance of precaution in view of the rising cases of Omicron, the variant of Coronavirus in the country. The announcement was made soon after Bharat Biotech’s locally developed Covaxin was given an emergency authorisation by the drug regulator, DCGI for children above 12 years of age. However, the vaccination drive will cover children above 15 years old only as of now. Covaxin is the second vaccine to be cleared for children after Zydus Cadila’s needle-free vaccine ZyCoV-D. The Prime Minister also said in his address that a nasal vaccine and the world’s first DNA Vaccine against Covid will also soon get approvals in India. 

“We have all experienced that healthcare and frontline workers have made a major contribution in the country’s fight against the coronavirus. They even today spend a lot of time in service of Covid patients. That is why as a precaution, the government has decided to initiate administration of a ‘precaution dose’ for them. This initiative will begin from January 10, 2022, ” PM Modi announced in his address to the nation on the beginning of booster doses to the vulnerable sections of the population.

Those above 60 years of age and with comorbidities can also avail of the ‘precaution dose’ of COVID-19 vaccine on the recommendation of their doctors from January 10, 2022.  

The PM emphasised that as the virus is mutating, the country’s capability and confidence to face the challenge is also multiplying along with “our innovative spirit”. He said “Realising the seriousness of COVID-19, today more than 141 crore doses have been administered in India. More than 90 per cent of the eligible adult population of India has already received their first dose of Covid vaccine while 61 per cent has received both the doses.”

The PM also assured that India has readied 18 Lac isolation beds, 5 Lac oxygen supported beds and 1.4 Lac ICU beds and 90,000 pediatric ICU and non-ICU beds. Over 3,000 functional PSA Oxygen plants and 4 lakh cylinders have been distributed throughout the nation.

In the wake of the rising Omicron cases, the PM urged people not to panic and observe Covid protocols. He said  in his address to the nation “In India, many people have been found to be infected with Omicron. I would urge all of you not to panic, be careful and alert. Remember to keep washing hands and mask up.”  He further appealed to citizens of India not to spread rumours , fall prey to fake news and stressed on being cautious in the holiday season as people prepare to welcome the New Year with hope and celebration. 

The PM said precaution and vaccination are the best ways to combat the pandemic.  Citing global experience that following all preventive measures at the personal level is a big weapon to fight Covid. 

Cautioning against the rise of Omicron infections, he appealed to citizens to speed up the world’s biggest vaccination campaign in the coming days. He asserted that a decision to introduce ‘precaution dose’ and vaccinating children will boost the fight against the pandemic and help in normalisation of education in schools.

India has reported 7,189 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry.