Union minister Bhupender, CM Biren launch vax drive
CM urges parents to vaccinate their kids at nearest health centres
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 03 2022:
Union minister of Labour and Employment, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav on Monday launched COVID-19 vaccination for 15-18 years old children a t Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Imphal.
Speaking at the programme, he recalled how we get polio vaccine/medicine from abroad, which also takes 15 to 16 years.
"But, now under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we inaugurated COVID-19 vaccination centre and within one year, 100 crore people were vaccinated.
I am happy that I could participate in the launching of COVID-19 vaccination for 15-18 years old children at RIMS today," he said.
The minister also appreciated people of the state for taking concern in climate change through an article on climate change in local daily.
It is very important for us to conserve our natural resources like flora and fauna, lakes, etc., and make their lifestyle, he said.
He also noted that PM Modi had announced in UN-led COP26 climate change summit that India will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2070 and is set to give a firm push to India's plans for increasing renewable energy, and switching to electricity and hydrogen fuels for transport and has initiated to work together to achieve it.
During the launch programme, BJP spokesperson Dr Sambit Patra, advisor (Health) to CM Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh, Imphal West DC Th Kirankumar Singh, RIMS director Prof A Santa Singh, medical superintendent Prof Nepram Sanjib Singh, Imphal West district magistrate Jogen Singh, district immunisation officer Dr N Shantajit Singh and COVID-19 Vaccination Center, RIMS nodal officer Dr Vijaya Elangbam were also present.
In sync with the announcement by the Prime Minister for Covid-19 vaccination for children between the age group of 15-18 years which commenced across the country on Monday, CM N Biren has appealed to parents/guardians to have their children, who fall within the age bracket to get vaccinated at the nearest health centres.
On Monday, the state Health Department organised the vaccination drive for the age group of 15-18 years at the auditorium of JNIMS.
CM Biren launched the drive with the first beneficiary of the age group, Thangjam Suprava (16) of Khurai Thangjam Leikai getting the first shot of Covaxin.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM cautioned that new variants of Covid-19 are being detected every now and then, with the latest being the Omicron variant.
As such, the vaccination drive for the age, group of 15-18 years was launched, he said, while lauding PM Modi and the Union Health Minister for this initiative, as well as the scientists and doctors who help in producing/manufacturing the vaccine.
Conveying about his interactions with the children during the drive, Biren observed that the children seem to have better understanding about the pandemic.
He also commented on the large number of young beneficiaries who showed up to get vaccinated, adding the high attendance indicates even the children trust the steps taken up by the government.
While urging the non-vaccinated adults to get the jab at the earliest, he also appealed to parents/guardians to have their children vaccinated at the nearest health centres.
He then expressed firm belief that scientists and doctors will soon be able to produce vaccine for children below 15 years of age, just as they have done for the age group of 15-18 years.
The launch of the drive was also attended by additional chief secretary (Health) V Vumlunmang, JNIMS director Prof L Deben and top officials of Health Services.