NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya told the Rajya Sabha that Covid vaccination for children in the country would begin soon. "Proceedings for vaccination of children will begin soon. Permission for two new vaccines is under consideration," the minister said.

According to Mandaviya, India is prepared to fight the Omicron variant of coronavirus and the country's vaccine manufacturing capacity will be increased to 45 crore doses per month in the next two months.

Buffer stocks of medicine and oxygen have been prepared to mitigate any crisis and 48,000 ventilators have been distributed to states, the minister said.

The minister said that 88 percent of the eligible population has been given the first dose and 58 percent second dose.

Speaking at a discussion on the situation arising out of cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19 virus in the country, the minister said it has been declared a variant of concern by the World Health Organisation, and the government is keeping a close watch on the situation.

Noting that the variant is spreading globally, Mandaviya said so far 161 cases of Omicron variant infections have been reported in the country and the government has already taken steps to tackle it.