Assam aims to vaccinate 15-18 age group within 7 days, 2nd dose before exams

Assam health minister Keshav Mahanta said special camps will be set up in schools and junior colleges across the state to vaccinate students in the 15-18 age group

Published on: Jan 1, 2022, 09:58:00 IST

By Utpal Parashar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

GUWAHATI: The Assam government aims to vaccinate all eligible recipients in the 15–18-year age bracket with Covaxin within one week, health minister Keshav Mahanta said here on Friday.

Assam has nearly 2 million teenagers who are eligible to be vaccinated once Covid-19 jabs for the 15-18 age group begins from Monday, January 3 (PTI)

Health and education authorities will join hands to set up special camps in schools and junior colleges across the state and vaccinate students. Those who are not in schools and colleges can get their jabs at regular vaccination centres.

“Vaccination of this new section of the population will start on January 3. We have taken it as a mission to finish first dose vaccination of all eligible 15–18-year-olds by January 9 before the start of third dose vaccination for citizens above 60, and frontline and healthcare workers from January 10,” Mahanta said.

“I request all parents and guardians to ensure that their children get the first dose by January 9 so that they are eligible to get their second dose in February before start of the final or board exams,” he added.

Director (Health Services) Munindra Nath Ngatey said Assam has nearly 2 million eligible recipients who fall in the 15-18 age category.

Mahanta said till date the state administered 37.5 million doses (21.7 million first dose and 15.8 million second dose) of Covid-19 vaccine across the state.

Though Assam is yet to record any case of Omicron variant of Covid-19, the minister said that preparations are already underway to tackle the fast-spreading variant.

“To fight the possible onslaught of Omicron we have 9,000 extra beds, 1,000 ICU beds and 2,600 oxygen beds ready at the moment. If required, we can increase the total number of beds to 25,000 within one week,” said Mahanta.

He added the state will have two genome testing laboratories (one in Jorhat and another in Guwahati) within the next few days for genome sequencing of the Omicron variant.

Till date, Assam has recorded 620,563 Covid-19 cases with 612,282 recoveries and 6,164 deaths.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk Hunger Strike LIVE and more across India.