Centre Accepted Our Demand : Oppn Responds To Vaccine For Children & 'Precautionary Dose' Announcement

The vaccination of children will begin from January 3, 2022, and the precautionary dose will begin from January 10, 2022. 

(From Left) Cong Leader Rahul Gandhi (Photo: PTI), Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal (Photo: PTI), and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot (Photo: ANI)

New Delhi: The opposition has taken the Prime Minister’s announcement on vaccines for children and ‘precautionary dose’ for Healthline workers and people with comorbidities, and children aged between 15-18 years rather positively. 

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi applauded the decision by saying that it is the right step. He tweeted on Sunday, "The central government has accepted my suggestion of a booster dose - this is a right step. The safety of vaccines and boosters will have to reach the people of the country."

केंद्र सरकार ने बूस्टर डोज़ का मेरा सुझाव मान लिया है- ये एक सही क़दम है। देश के जन-जन तक वैक्सीन व बूस्टर की सुरक्षा पहुँचानी होगी।#BoosterJab #VaccinateIndia https://t.co/wUW7eYhEme

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 26, 2021

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot wrote on Twitter, “I am happy that by accepting our demand today, Prime Minister has announced booster dose and vaccination of children between 15 years and 18 years. Vaccine and covid protocol is the only way to fight covid.”

विशेषज्ञों की राय के अनुसार हमने कई दफा पत्र लिखकर प्रधानमंत्री जी से कोविड वैक्सीन की बूस्टर डोज एवं बच्चों की वैक्सीन के संबंध में दिशा निर्देश जारी करने की मांग की।

— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) December 25, 2021

He further added that his party had written to the PM several times for vaccines for children and booster doses. “According to the opinion of experts, we have written several times requesting the Prime Minister to issue guidelines regarding booster dose of Kovid vaccine and vaccine for children.”

Gehlot also urged people to understand the severity of the virus and get vaccinated. A similar reaction came from Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal who expressed his happiness after the announcement via Twitter saying, “I am happy that today the Prime Minister announced a booster dose for the frontline workers. Booster dose should be given to all.”

मुझे ख़ुशी है आज प्रधानमंत्री जी ने फ़्रंटलाइन वर्कर के लिए बूस्टर डोस का एलान किया। बूस्टर डोस सबको लगनी चाहिए

इसके अलावा 15 से 18 साल के बच्चों को अब वैक्सीन लग पाएगी, ये बेहद सुखद बात है। https://t.co/9lCtfZRB89

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 25, 2021

While these two expressed happiness, the National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said that the government should ensure an adequate supply of vaccine doses in the country.

“Vaccines for children 15-18 age group to start from 3rd Jan ‘22, frontline workers & people aged 60+ with co-morbidities will be given a booster/precautionary dose from 10th Jan. The decision comes not a moment too soon. #vaccine #BoosterJab #PrecautionaryDose,” he wrote on Twitter.

He further added, “Now all that remains is for the government to ensure adequate supply of vaccines. Also a greater choice of vaccines beyond the two already available will go a long way to helping with the booster rollout.”

Vaccines for children 15-18 age group to start from 3rd Jan ‘22, frontline workers & people aged 60+ with co-morbidities will be given a booster/precautionary dose from 10th Jan. The decision comes not a moment too soon. #vaccine #BoosterJab #PrecautionaryDose

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 25, 2021

Talking to news agency ANI, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope also welcomed the decision saying, "We welcome the Centre govt's decision on boosters for 60+, frontline staff; vaccines for 15-18 years. Booster dose amid Omicron scare is need of the hour."

The reaction of the opposition came after the PM announced the vaccines for children aged between 15-18 years. The PM also said that the ‘precautionary shot’ will be available for Healthline workers, people aged 60 above, and people with comorbidities. The vaccination of children will begin from January 3, 2022, and the precautionary dose will begin from January 10, 2022.