Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin has gained approval for emergency use in children aged 12 to 18, the Indian company said on Twitter.
The tweet came minutes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in an address to the nation that 15-18 year olds would start receiving COVID-19 vaccinations from Jan. 3.
In a national address, Modi also said those aged 15-18 would start receiving COVID-19 vaccinations from Jan. 3 and those above 60 with comorbidities would be offered booster shots after recommendation from doctors.
“From the point of view of precaution, the government has decided that healthcare and frontline workers should start getting a precaution dose,” Modi said in the speech.
India has reported a swift rise in Omicron cases, with the number reaching 415 overall across 17 Indian states.
Modi’s government has been accelerating its vaccination campaign, administering at least one dose to 88% of the eligible 944 million population, while 61% have taken both doses.
As millions still await second shots, the authorities will now start offering booster shots to healthcare and frontline workers, who suffered from an overwhelming second-wave of the virus in the summer that killed tens of thousands.
Medical experts have said India needs to double down on its vaccination campaign and expand coverage to avert another possible surge in new infections particularly in the vast hinterlands where healthcare facilities are sparse.
According to Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on COVID-19 The top five states with the highest number of active cases, at the moment, are Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Karnataka
Tamilnadu state Health Minister Ma Subramanian announced on Sunday that the vaccination for kids from 15-18 years of age will begin in Tamil Nadu from January 3, 2022, and about 33 lakh children are eligible for the same.
He stated that the individuals aged 60 years or more are eligible for booster doses and the vaccination for them in the State is to begin from January 10th.
In addition to that, Ma Subramanian also inaugurated the 16th mega vaccination drive in Guindy and said that 8.14 crore vaccine doses have been administered in the State.
In Tamiladu Currently, 84.87 per cent of the total population has been vaccinated with the first dose, and 55.85 per cent of people have been given both doses.
Tamil Nadu ranks first among all states in the vaccination of pregnant women he added ..
There are about 80 lakh vaccine doses in stock so we urge more people to get vaccinated and make use of the mega vaccination drive, he said.
Talking about Omicron cases in the State, he said that about 34 people who have been affected with the Omicron variant, of which 12 have been discharged and 22 others are being treated at various hospitals.
The Maharashtra government late on Friday clamped prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. with effect from Saturday.
The measure comes in the wake of increasing Covid-19 cases and galloping Omicron infections the latter soaring to 108 since the first case recorded on December 4.
In BJP ruled Gujarat state Night curfew to be in force from 11pm-5am in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Gandhinagar & Junagadh from December 25, in view of current COVID19 situation: Gujarat CM office
In view of the current Covid situation, Odisha Government has restricted the Christmas & New Year celebrations w.e.f 25th Dec to 2nd Jan. Social gatherings, rallies, orchestras, celebrations in hotels, clubs, restaurants, parks, etc will be banned across the State
UttarPrasdesh government has imposed a night curfew, that will be put in place from December 25 from 11 pm-5am. Additionally, not more than 200 people will be allowed in weddings.
