India is gearing up for another important step in the world's unique achievement in Covid vaccination. The Centre has given permission to start vaccination for children between the ages of 15 and 18 on January 3. It was also decided to give booster dose to over 3 crore health workers. At the same time, Booster doses will be given to those over 60 who are undergoing treatment for various ailments. It will start from January 10. It is estimated that there are over one billion people in the country past 60. The idea is to give the same vaccine to those who have taken two doses earlier. Bharat Biotech has developed a special vaccine for adolescents between the ages of fifteen and eighteen. It is called Psycho-D and is given through the nose. It is also stipulated that the booster dose should be given nine months after the second dose. Although the spread of Covid in the country has been brought under control, the advent of the new variant Omicron has led to a greater emphasis on immunization. With the vaccine being available to people over the age of 15, children in the senior classes can be protected from the epidemic. It will also be possible to start classes above ninth standard completely.

In Kerala, which has made great strides in the Covid vaccination, it is easy to successfully vaccinate people between the ages of 15 and 18. The government is considering a system where health workers can be vaccinated in schools. It is estimated that there are 15 million children between the ages of 15 and 18. It only takes a few days for them to get vaccinated in schools. At the same time, there may be isolated attempts to dissuade children, as there were a handful of teachers and non-teachers who deliberately avoided vaccination. The government needs to take precautions against such moves.

The benefits of vaccinating children in schools are many. The first advantage is that everything is in order. Teachers will help and support the systematic vaccination process in schools. The presence of a doctor with health workers in each school will build more trust in children and parents. Above all, accurate information on vaccinated children can be collected and those who have been left behind can be easily identified and hopefully vaccinated.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had yesterday called for intensifying efforts to make the Covid vaccine 100 per cent in the face of growing Omicron fears. He also suggested that hospitals across the country be equipped to deal with the spread of Omicron. The country has learned a lot from the lessons taught by Covid and has achieved the strength to face any challenge.

Some countries also vaccinate children over the age of two. The study, which is being conducted in India, has been postponed until the age of 15. It can be expected that these groups will also be vaccinated sooner rather than later.