Shillong, Jan 3: Amid concerns over the new, highly transmissible Omicron variant, India on Monday started vaccinating 15 to 18-year-old age group against the coronavirus infection (Covid-19).

The government’s decision to begin the vaccination drive in this regard was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Christmas Day last December. It was said that while vaccination for the age bracket of 15-18 will begin from January 3, 2022, the administration of a precautionary third dose (booster shot) for vulnerable categories of people will begin from January 10.

According to an official statement by the Union Health Ministry, people with the birth year of 2007 or before will be eligible for vaccination under the category of 15 to 18 year-old.

It is, however, to be noted that only Bharat Biotech’s indigenously-made shot ‘Covaxin’ will be used for vaccinating this age bracket. According to a note sent by the Union Health Ministry to all States and Union territories, additional doses of Covaxin will be sent to the states for administering the vaccine to this population category.

Vaccination drive in Meghalaya was kickstarted by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong at the Rynjah PHC with former MLA and UDP leader Jemino Mawthoh’s daughter amongst the first adolescent beneficiaries.

“Today is a special day since we can launch the Covid vaccination for the 15-18 years… we were really worried about the age of 15 to 18 because this is the age where we need to send the children to institutions, be it to school or other educational institutions” said the Dy CM Tynsong.“I think this is the prime age for our children, our sons or daughters. So now I’m really happy that we were able to launch this and I would request the parent to come forward and also to request their children to make sure that they get themselves vaccinated,” added Tynsong.