This archive report was first published on 3 January 2022.
India has extended Covid vaccinations to teens aged 15-18, a move aimed at safeguarding the country’s youth from the Omicron coronavirus variant. The decision was made after officials tightened restrictions in big cities to avoid a repeat of last year’s devastating outbreak.
More than 200,000 people around India died in a huge spring virus wave that overwhelmed hospitals and crematoriums. Despite this, health workers have since administered more than 1.4 billion vaccine doses, but less than half of India’s population is fully inoculated, according to government data.
On Monday, hundreds of teenagers patiently queued with their parents outside a school turned into a makeshift medical centre in the capital New Delhi. Among them was 16-year-old Soumadeep, who received his first dose of the Indian-made Covaxin.
“It’s really great to have your first vaccine,” Soumadeep said after receiving his dose.
India has the world’s second-highest number of cases, with nearly 35 million confirmed infections. Its 481,000 known Covid deaths are the third-highest, behind the tolls in the United States and Brazil. However, under-reporting is widespread, and some studies have estimated India’s true toll could be up to 10 times higher.
As the country continues to grapple with the pandemic, officials have fretted over the arrival of the Omicron variant and a sudden rise in daily infections. New Delhi and tech hub Bangalore are under overnight curfews from 10 pm each evening, with bars and restaurants in both cities ordered to operate at half capacity.
India will begin rolling out booster vaccines for people aged over 60 from next Monday.
