Tannuka Juneja
The central government has announced that the precaution dose of Covid-19 can now be administered to all those above the age of 18 and have completed nine months after the administration of the second dose. The vaccination will begin on April 10 at private centres, said the union health ministry.
“It has been decided that the precaution dose of Covid vaccines will be made available to the 18-plus population group at private vaccination centres. This facility would be available at all private vaccination centres,” the ministry said.
➡️ Precaution Dose to be now available to 18+ population group from 10th April, 2022, at Private Vaccination Centres.https://t.co/lmnT0NQXyN pic.twitter.com/U49UVJAPUt
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) April 8, 2022
The ongoing free vaccination programme through government vaccination centres for the first and the second dose to the eligible population as well as the precaution dose to healthcare workers, frontline workers and those above 60 would continue and be accelerated, the ministry stated.
What is 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.
India’s Covid-19 Vaccine Figures
According to health ministry data, about 96 percent of all 15-plus population in the country have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose while about 83% of the 15+ population has received both doses. More than 2.4 crore third doses have also been administered to healthcare workers, frontline workers and 60+ population groups; 45 percent of 12 to 14 years age group have also received the first dose.
