<span style="color: #222222;">Karnataka Health and Medical Education Minister Dr. K Sudhakar informed the media persons in Bengaluru today that according to the reports received from other parts of the world, the new strain of Omicron virus is not as virulent as the Delta virus. He however added that Omicron is found to spread rapidly. Those vaccinated with the double dose are protected from severe impact of this new strain.<br />''<br />''The minister informed that 93 percent of the eligible population has received the first dose and 64 percent the second dose in the state. He appealed to people to come forward to get both the doses and help achieve 100 percent vaccination by December end. He said the state has 70 lakh doses of Covid vaccine and there is no shortage.<br />''<br />''On children to be infected by Covid virus, the minister said that till now it is found that the children are not as vulnerable to the virus infection as the senior citizens with comorbidities.</span><br />