A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on the government’s strategy to tackle COVID-19, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said that the Center had accepted ‘his suggestion’ by deciding to roll out booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine. 

He also retweeted his post from December 22 in which he had asked the government when it will begin booster shots, highlighting the fact that a majority of the country’s population was still not vaccinated.

The PM had asked the citizens to not panic, but to remain vigilant, considering the country’s rising COVID caseload. He added that India would soon be getting an intranasal and ‘the world’s first DNA vaccine’ for the coronavirus. 

A few important highlights from his address include:

1. Vaccines for those aged 15-18 years would start on January 3

2. Healthcare and frontline workers will get a precautionary (booster) dose from January 10

3. From the same date, those above 60 with co-morbidities can get a booster dose based on doctor’s advice

As New Year’s eve approaches, Modi urged caution since the contagious omicron variant is pushing up infection numbers in the country. 

However, if we ‘use masks and wash hands regularly’, we shouldn’t have cause for concern, he noted.

Also Read | PM Modi addresses nation, announces COVID vaccine for ages 15-18

The PM also took the opportunity to tell the country’s citizens what steps have been taken in terms of hospital beds, oxygen, and vaccinations. 

Modi announced, “Today, the nation has 18 lakh isolation beds, 5 lakh oxygen-supported beds, 1.4 lakh ICU beds, and 90,000 special beds for children. Today, we have over 3,000 functional PSA Oxygen plants and 4 lakh Oxygen cylinders have been provided to all states. Apart from research on the vaccine, we were also working on approval processes, supply chains, distribution, training, IT support system, and certification. With these efforts, India started vaccinating its citizens on January 16 this year. Today, more than 61% of India’s adult population has received both doses of the vaccine. Similarly, about 90% of the adult population has been given a single dose of the vaccine”.  

Also Read |World is facing 4th COVID wave, states advised to impose restrictions: Centre

Nearly 422 Omicron cases have been detected across 17 states and union territories in India so far, the highest being in Maharashtra, the health ministry informed on Sunday. 

The country’s total cases increased to 3,47,86,802, and the death toll has risen to 4,79,682.