E-Paper
All adults above 60 years of age can get Covid precaution doses from Wednesday
Earlier, people with comorbidities above the age of 60 were eligible for precaution doses, which are third shots, meant to boost the immunity which naturally reduces after the first two shots of Covid vaccines.
In a major step in the fight against Covid-19, the Centre will be vaccinating all adults above 60 years of age with precaution doses starting from Wednesday, health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Monday. Earlier, people with comorbidities above the age of 60 were eligible for precaution doses, which are third shots, meant to boost the immunity which naturally reduces after the first two shots of Covid vaccines.
The decision comes as the Centre also brings children in the age group of 12-14 years, expanding the vaccination programme.
Biological E's Corbevax will be administered to the 12-14 years age group.
The decision comes amid reports of a fresh outbreak of the infection in two major cities of China, Shenzhen and Shanghai which have imposed strict lockdown measures.
India rolled out its vaccination programme on January 16 last year with frontline workers getting priority. In phases, the vaccination programme was extended to include everyone above the age of 18 years. The inoculation of children below 18 years started this year.
Precaution Dose is what is known as booster dose in other countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced prcaution dose in a special address. All frontline workers and senior citizens with co-morbidities were deemed eligible for the precaution doses. However, no doctor's certificate was required.
Precaution dose is the third dose of the same vaccine that has been administered to an individual that means if one has got Covishield in the first two doses, the third dose will also be of Covishield. The same rule applies for Covaxin as well.
