Covid Booster Dose- All You Need to Know The Union health ministry on Friday announced that Covid precaution dose, also known as the booster dose, will be available to the 18+ population starting from April 10, at private vaccination centres. “It has been decided that precaution dose of COVID vaccines will be made available to 18+ population group at private vaccination centres.
The administration of Precaution Dose to 18+ population through Private Vaccination Centres would start from 10th April (Sunday), 2022. All those who are more than 18 years of age & have completed 9 months after the administration of second dose, would be eligible for Precaution Dose. This facility would be available in all Private Vaccination Centres,” the statement issued by the Centre said.
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 ongoing free vaccination programme through government vaccination centres for the first, second and the precaution dose to healthcare workers, frontline workers and the population above the age of 60 will continue and the pace would be accelerated, the health ministry said.
The Covid vaccination programme which began in January 2021 got extended in several phases including adolescents as well. Now all adults are eligible for the third dose of the vaccine, in a remarkable milestone for India’s vaccination programme.
What is Covid vaccine precaution dose?
Precaution dose is the third dose of the same vaccine that one has been 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.
Who is eligible for the precautionary dose?
If a person is 18 years or above, they are eligible to take the precautionary dose of vaccine against Covid-19.
When to take the precautionary dose?
The health ministry said that those who have completed 9 months after the administration of the second dose would be eligible for precaution dose at private vaccination centers.
Which vaccine will be given as the precautionary dose?
The individuals will be inoculated with the same Covid-19 vaccine as the first and the second dose as the mixing of vaccines is not allowed in the country. However, final guidelines on vaccinating all above 18 years are yet to be issued.
How to book an appointment for the precautionary dose?
People who are eligible for the precautionary dose of Covid-19 vaccine can book an appointment by visiting the Co-WIN portal, i.e. www.cowin.gov.in, or through the Aarogya Setu App. To book the slot people will have to signing-in through the registered mobile number and Aadhar card.
What is the cost of the booster dose?
According to the government statement, people will have to pay for their booster doses. Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO, Adar Poonawalla also informed that the precaution dose of its Covishield vaccine will be priced at Rs 600 plus taxes per shot. “End-users will pay Rs 600 for the booster dose and the hospitals will get at discounted price,” Poonawalla said in a statement. He also informed that once Covovax dose will cost Rs 900 plus taxes.
Meanwhile, India had commenced administering precaution doses of Covid-19 vaccines to the healthcare and frontline workers and those aged 60 and above with comorbidities from January 10 this year. Later, the Center had allowed the booster dose for all those above 60.
India has administered 185 crore doses of Covid vaccines so far, according to the CoWin dashboard. Covishield accounted for 83.3% of all doses administered in India, while Covaxin accounted for about 16%.“Adding an extra layer of safety! precaution dose to be available to 18+ age group from 10th April, 2022 at private vaccination centres. All 18+ who have completed nine months after administration of second dose would be eligible for precaution dose,” health minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted.
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