Eligible elders wil get SMS reminder for precautionary dose

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has informed that the Union Government will send an SMS alert to the eligible elderly population to remind for taking the precautionary dose of COVID vaccine that starts from January 10. The Ministry said that the precautionary dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is primarily to mitigate the severity of infection, hospitalisation, and death. In his address to the nation on 25 December, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the vaccination for children and precautionary’ doses for those above 60 years in the wake of Omicron surge. India will begin to administer booster doses to frontline workers and senior citizens from January 10. Centre said, approximately 90 percent of the adult population in the country has been vaccinated against COVID-19 with the first dose.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,270 cases of Omicron variant of Covid-19 have been reported so far in the country. Out of these cases, 374 patients have already recovered and migrated. Maximum number of 450 cases have been reported from Maharashtra followed by Delhi with 320 cases. Omicron cases have been reported in 23 States and Union Territories. Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Friday said, over 144 crore 54 lakh doses of COVID vaccines have been administered in the country under the nationwide vaccination drive. The country reported 16 thousand 764 new Covid cases in last 24 hours. Currently, India's active caseload is 91,361. The active cases constitute 0.26 percent of the country's total positive cases, which is lowest since March last year. The Ministry said, more than 67 crore 78 lakh COVID-19 tests have been conducted so far. More than three crore 42 lakh 66 thousand patients have recovered from COVID-19 in the country so far.