Assam health minister Keshab Mahanta said that at least one lakh teens between 15 and 18 years old in the state will be vaccinated against Covid-19 across 500 educational institutions on Monday.

While inaugurating the vaccination drive at Gopal Boro High School in Guwahati, the minister said the Assam government will ensure that the vaccination drive in the state for the teens will be completed by January 10 this year.

Mr. Keshab Mahanta also asserted that in the initial stage the state government is targeting to inoculate at least 20 lakh teens between 15-18 years.

"Schools will not be closed and board examinations will be held in March," he said.

On December 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that vaccination for the 15-18-year age group will begin from January 3. Over 8 lakh teens have registered in the government's CoWin portal and all will get a dose of Covaxin.

The health minister informed that amid the rising cases of Omicron, a variant of coronavirus, the state government is well prepared to combat the fatal contagion.

"1000 ICU beds and 1000 general beds have been set up and very soon at least 25000 beds will come up across the state as well. We are very well cautioned about the Covid and Omicron situation," he added.