Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an address to the nation on Saturday announced that India will start vaccinating children between the ages of 15 to 18 from January 3 next year, while healthcare and frontline workers will be provided with "precautionary doses" from January 10, 2022.

Also, people above 60 years of age who have co-morbidities will have the option to take a booster dose, on a doctor's recommendation, from January 10.

The Prime Minister said it's time to be careful as the highly contagious Omicron variant is spreading rapidly across the world and cases are rising. PM Modi appealed to the people not to panic and "use masks and wash hands regularly".

PM Narendra Modi in his address said that people with comorbidities and those aged 60 and above will be eligible for booster doses on the advice of their doctor from January 10, 2022.

The Prime Minister also hailed India's vaccination drive against Covid-19. PM Modi mentioned that 141 crore vaccine doses have been administered in India to date.

In his address, the Prime Minister declared that vaccinations for children between the ages of 15 to 18 will begin from January 3rd of next year.

“More than 90 per cent of the eligible population has been vaccinated with the first dose of vaccine," he added.

In view of the new variant, he said, in many countries, the number of infections is increasing due to the new Omicron variant.

"I appeal to all not to panic but remain vigilant, and use masks and sanitise hands regularly," he added further.