Those 18+ To Receive Free Booster COVID-19 Dose From July 15 Till Next 75 Days: Govt
Mumbai: A precautionary dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is likely to be given to persons in the age group of 18 to 59 years at government immunization centres from July 15, Union minister Anurag Thakur said on Wednesday.
Booster shots will be given free of cost at government immunization centres with the aim of expediting the precautionary dose of COVID.
The beneficiaries will be given a booster dose as part of a 75-day special campaign that will be organized as part of the Centre’s Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.
“India is celebrating 75 years of independence. On the occasion of the elixir of independence, it has been decided that free booster doses will be given to citizens above 18 years of age for the next 75 days from 15th July 2022,” Union Minister said.
The Union Health Ministry last week reduced the gap between the second and precautionary dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for people above 18 years of age to six months from the current nine months.
The Union Health Ministry last week reduced the gap between the second and precautionary dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for people above 18 years of age to six months from the current nine months.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, in a letter to chief secretaries and administrators of all states and union territories, said that this decision has been taken on the recommendation of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI).
“In view of the evolving scientific evidence and global practices, the ‘Standing Technical Sub-Committee’ (STSC) of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) has recommended revising the duration between second dose and precaution dose from existing 9 months or 39 weeks to 6 months or 26 weeks. This has also been endorsed by NTAGI,” it said.
“Hence it has now been decided that all the beneficiaries in the age group of 18- 59 years will be given the precautionary dose after completion of 6 months or 26 weeks from the date of administration of the second dose at private COVID vaccination centres (CVCs),” it added.
The government also said that health workers and frontline workers above 60 years of age would be given a booster dose after the completion of six months from the date of giving the second dose at government immunization centres.
“For beneficiaries aged above 60 years and above as well as the Health Care Workers (HCWs) & Front Line Workers (FLWs) precaution dose would be administered after completion of 6 months or 26 weeks from the date of administration of 2nd dose at government CVCs free of charge,” it said.
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