Amidst the scare of Omicron, vaccination for the age group of 15-18 years has started nationwide. Teens registered in the Co-WIN portal for being administered with Covaxin, even as Delhi reported 4,099 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours. More than 40 lakh children in the 15-18-year age group received their first vaccine dose on Monday—the first day of the widened immunisation drive. Announcing the same, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted: “Well done Young India! Over 40 Lakhs between 15-18 age group received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on the 1st day of vaccination drive for children, till 8 pm. This is another feather in the cap of India’s vaccination drive.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced, on 25 December, that the vaccination for 15-18 years of age would start from 3 January 2022. On Monday, Prime Minister Modi congratulated the 15-18 age group for getting their first vaccine doses. The PM tweeted: “Today we have taken an important step forward in protecting our youth against Covid-19. Congrats to all my young friends between the age group of 15-18 who got vaccinated. Congrats to their parents as well. I would urge more youngsters to get vaccinated in the coming days!”
However, in Delhi, the majority of the children, whether accompanied by friends or parents, complained about long waits and a lack of staff in some government hospitals of Delhi. Even after arranging the slot ahead of time, several youngsters waited for more than two hours. “We’ve been waiting for more than two hours. We arrived at 11 a.m. and are still waiting for our slot number to be called,” a teenager from Delhi Gate, who had been waiting near the vaccination centre at Kasturba hospital, told The Daily Guardian.
Similarly, another parent complained of a shortage of staff in the vaccination centre of Kasturba hospital. “I had taken the dosages from Maulana Azad hospital and the arrangement was far better; however, here we have been waiting for three hours. There are just four people and only one person is giving the vaccination to all. The arrangement could have been better,” a student, who accompanied his friend, told this paper.
However, people didn’t face much trouble, apart from long waiting hours, as the authorities were helpful, but several youngsters who had come from far off places kept waiting for their turn. Most of them were waiting in a small tent, under a tree, a little away from the OPD building of the hospital. “Although I am not happy with the arrangement at least my son is getting the vaccine and that’s important,” a parent, who resides nearby Yamuna Bank Metro station, told this correspondent.
Although The Daily Guardian tried to reach out to the Chief Medical Officer and Medical Superintendent of Kasturba hospital, none of the officers was available to comment at the moment. Also, many schools and educational institutions in Delhi carried out vaccination amongst teens. On Saturday, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain had assured that Delhi had the infrastructure to vaccinate 3,00,000 people per day even after the beginning of Covid jabs among teens. The vaccination process has been carried out from 9 am to 5 pm.
84% OMICRON
On Monday, Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said: “84% of the Covid-19 cases reported in Delhi in the past two days were of the Omicron variant. Currently, 202 patients are admitted to Delhi hospitals.” According to the health bulletin, Delhi reported 4,099 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the positivity rate to 6.46%. “Due to Omicron variant, Delhi has witnessed an increase in Covid-19 cases; however, the symptoms are mild and fewer people require hospitalization. In the last 24 hours, 202 patients are hospitalised due to Covid-19,” the minister said.
“There is no need to panic, you can escape Covid-19 by following safety protocols”, added Jain. He further assured people that the Covid-19 situation in Delhi is under control and hospitalisation is less as compared to last year. “Experts say that Omicron will spread at a faster pace, but will also come down fast, taking the example of South Africa”, the minister said. “Till now no Omicron patient required ventilator support,” added Jain. The active cases in Delhi have gone to 10,986 and the cumulative tally of the Covid-19 cases now stands at 14,58,220. As many as 6,288 Covid-19 patients and those suspected to be positive are in home isolation in the city. In the last 24 hours, Delhi also witnessed one Covid-related death taking the death toll to 25,100. Meanwhile, 1,509 people recovered from the infection in the last 24 hours. The recovery tally of the national capital now stands at 14,22,124. During the last 24 hours, 23,614 people Covid-19 vaccination doses were administered, out of which 9,167 people received their first dose while 14,447 received their second dose of the vaccine. Delhi is witnessing a surge in fresh coronavirus infections over the last week following the emergence of the Omicron variant of coronavirus. Amid the continuous rise of COVID cases in the national capital, the Delhi government has collected a fine of more than Rs 1 crore from those violating Covid-19 protocols on Sunday.
A report from Mumbai said that amid a surge in Covid-19 cases in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to shut down schools for Classes 1 to 9 and 11 till 31 January. However, schools for Classes 10 and 12 will run according to the normal schedule. BMC has allowed online classes for others. “Mumbai is the financial capital of India and as a result, people from all over the country come here which has led to the increase in Covid-19 cases. We have seen that 16% of children are infected with Covid-19 in Mumbai. So we have decided to close the schools,” said Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar. “The vaccination drive for children aged 15 to 18 will continue as it is. The children would be called from their house according to their turn”, added the Mayor. Maharashtra reported 12,160 new Covid infections in the last 24 hours and 68 new Omicron cases—40 new Omicron cases were detected in Mumbai.
Meanwhile, India reported 33,750 new Covid-19 cases and 123 deaths in the last 24 hours, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday. According to the ministry, the number of Omicron infections stands at 1,700 and it has spread to 23 states. (WITH AGENCY INPUTS)