Covid-19 precautionary dose: Appointments for third vaccine shot to open today. Check details
Hindustan TimesAppointments for the ‘precautionary dose’ of coronavirus disease vaccine in India will begin from Saturday, according to the announcement made by the central government. The Centre has already notified the states and Union territories that for each recipient, the third dose would be the same shot that was used for the first two doses. On Friday, the Union health ministry said that the eligible population – healthcare workers, frontline workers and those above 60 years of age with comorbidities – who have already taken two doses of the vaccine, can directly book an appointment or walk in to any of the Covid-19 vaccination centres. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on December 25 announced the Centre’s decision to administer a ‘precautionary dose’ of the vaccine amid the spread of the Omicron variant, which has led to a surge in Covid-19 cases and concerns around an imminent third wave of infections. the same vaccine that has been administered for the previous two doses would be given as the precaution dose to the eligible beneficiaries.” Meanwhile, the country’s vaccination drive administered 1.5 billion doses of the vaccine on Friday, a feat that was hailed by PM Modi and Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya.