- As you are aware, the subject matter was being discussed animatedly over the last few weeks across the country, especially by the medical and scientific community who were raising concerns about the prolonged delay in deciding on the plan of action by the Union Government. It appeared the authorities were recalcitrant to press ahead with the decision-making even though emphasis and focus were laid on ensuring the ongoing vaccination drive for all eligible adults picks up pace. The first and second dose of the vaccination drive did slow down in the interim but has since picked up pace largely owing to the emergence of the new variant, Omicron.
PC: freepik
- As reports suggest, the Omicron variant is proving to be a highly infectious strain spreading its dreaded tentacles at a faster clip. As the news about several European and Western countries hitting newer peaks vis-à-vis confirmed infection cases makes regular headlines, the Indian Government had to act to address the genuine concerns vis-à-vis vaccination for children, booster dose for healthcare workers, and elderly citizens sooner than later. In a late-night address, which was missed by the majority, the Prime Minister made the much-awaited announcement allowing for inoculation of all three categories.
- Note that children between 15 and 18 years will be inoculated from 03rd January 2022, precaution doses for healthcare workers, and aged citizens above 60 years with comorbidities from 10th January 2022 onwards. The last category will receive the dose on the recommendation of doctors.Of course, the announcement cannot have come at an appropriate time even as the entire universe is battling to stay afloat on the back of relentless attack by the unyielding virus. The economic activities had to be initiated and as such, some tangible reassuring signs were visible over the last few months where few of the sectors were reporting pre-pandemic levels of growth.
PC: studiogstock
- The Indian economy too was showing encouraging signs, especially the last quarter, ushering in positivity amid a gloomy past of 15 months or so. Further, the schools for all grades too were opened up since the loss of two crucial years of conventional classroom learnings have already had debilitating countereffects on the children’s educational curves. Mind you, the much-touted exhortations viz. learn to live with the virus, literally has forced each one of us to resume our routine in one or the other way but the latest variant Omicron might play a spoilsport by creating hurdles all over again.
- To thwart the virus from gaining an upper hand, the authorities had to initiate measures and the announcement by the Prime Minister hopefully meets the ensuing challenges on expected lines. Now that the vaccines are opened up for children between 15 to 18 years, parents must shed whatever inhibitions/apprehensions they might nurture surrounding the vaccine by consenting to get their respective wards inoculated without waiting for eternity. No sooner do the children receive their jabs, much better for the overall health of society. And to those millions of lethargic citizens still not convinced about the jabs, please do not hesitate to receive the vaccine which is the only way to keep the severity and fatality perpetrated by the virus at bay.
