Tatsat Chronicle Magazine

Covid-19 Booster Dose Available to Over 18 Population From Sunday

According to health ministry data, about 96% of all over 15 population in India has received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose, while about 83% of the 15+ population has received both doses.
April 8, 2022
Covid Booster Dose

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.

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.