COVID-19 booster dose for adults above 18 to start from 10 April at private centres
So far, about 96% of all those above 15 have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose while about 83% of those above 15 years has received both doses. More than 2.4 crore precaution doses have also been administered to healthcare workers, frontline workers, and the population above 60 years. Also, 45% of those between the age 12 to 14 years have received the first dose.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 9 April 2022 5:32 AM GMT
New Delhi: The Union health ministry on Friday announced that COVID-19 precaution dose, also known as the booster dose, will be available to the 18+ population from 10 April at private vaccination centres.
The ministry said, "All those who are more than 18 years of age and have completed nine months after the administration of the second dose will be eligible for the precaution dose."
So far, about 96% of all those above 15 have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose while about 83% of those above 15 years has received both doses. More than 2.4 crore precaution doses have also been administered to healthcare workers, frontline workers, and the population above 60 years. Also, 45% of those between the age 12 to 14 years have received the first dose.
The Centre said the ongoing free vaccination programme in government vaccination centres for the first and second doses to the eligible population as well as precaution doses to healthcare workers, frontline workers, and above 60 population will continue and will be accelerated.
The decision to open the third dose for all comes at a time when China is seeing a fresh surge in infections, though India's pandemic situation is under control.
The precaution dose is the third dose of the same vaccine that was administered against the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The necessity of a third dose was felt worldwide with the emergence of newer variants of the virus, while the immunity produced by two doses of the vaccine wanes gradually.
India's COVID-19 vaccination programme began in January 2021.
Meanwhile, the Serum Institute of India said that end-users will have to pay Rs. 600 for Covishield booster dose and the hospitals will get it at a discounted price.
