After his announcement of “precaution” or booster doses of anti-COVID19 vaccines for health and frontline workers and starting vaccinations for teens between 15-18 age group from early January, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his monthly radio broadcast, “Mann Ki Baat” to sound a repeated note of caution on the Omicron mutation of the Coronavirus, stating that “individual alertness and discipline” were the country’s big strength in the fight against the pandemic.  

In his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast, the last for this year, he asked people to maintain caution against the new variant of the virus. “This new Omicron variant is being constantly reviewed by our scientists. Every day they are getting new data and steps are being taken based on their suggestions,” Mr. Modi said. “Our experience of the last two years is that our own effort as a citizen is very important to defeat this global pandemic. It is our collective strength which will defeat corona. We have to enter 2022 with this sense of responsibility,” he added.

“Crossing the 140 million vaccine doses is an achievement of each and every Indian. This shows the trust of every Indian in the system; shows trust in science and in scientists; and is also a testament to the willpower of we Indians who are fulfilling our responsibilities towards the society,” he said. Vaccination against COVID-19 for children between 15 and 18 years will start from January 3, while “precaution dose” for healthcare and frontline workers would and those above 60 years of age and with comorbidities will be administered from January 10, he had announced on Saturday evening.

In the address, Prime Minister Modi also spoke about Group Captain Varun Singh, who passed away due to injuries that he had sustained in the helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu that had also taken the lives of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others. He referred to the letter Group Captain Singh had written to students in his school about success. “After reading this letter, the first thought that came to my mind was that even after reaching the pinnacle of success, he did not forget to nurture his roots. Second, when he had time to celebrate, he showed concern for the generations to come. He wanted that the lives of the students of the school that he studied in should also be a celebration,” said Prime Minister Modi.