Booster Dose Vaccination against Covid-19 begins Today

The precautionary third dose of vaccines against Covid-19 were announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month. It will be given to health and frontline workers and immune-compromised senior citizens, starting today as the number of Covid-19 cases in the country are rising. 

Know the detailed information 

1. The Health Ministry has said that there is no need to register for the precautionary vaccine dose. Those who are eligible can make an appointment directly or walk into the vaccination centre. No decision has yet been made on a booster dose for all adults.

2. In addition to health and frontline workers, people over the age of 60 who have co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension and other chronic diseases also have the option of receiving a "precautionary dose" on the advice of their doctor . 

3. However, people eligible for booster shots will get them only after 9 months of receiving the second dose of the COVID vaccine.

4. The third dose will be the same vaccine that people have received for their first and second doses. There will be no mix and match, the Center has said.

5. Those who have received two doses of Serum Institute's Covishield vaccine will get the third dose of the same. Those who have got Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, they will get its third jab.

6. A "precautionary dose" was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month amid continued demand for booster doses in view of the omicron threat.

7. Corona warriors, health workers and frontline workers have a huge contribution in keeping the country safe. Therefore, as a precaution, the government has decided to start giving "precautionary doses" for healthcare and frontline workers. Said on 25th December.

8. With the growth of Omicron-powered Covid, many doctors and healthcare workers have contracted the disease - many of them for the second time in the metropolis, especially among healthcare workers.

9. "All COVID vaccines, whether from India, Israel, the US, Europe, the UK or China, are primarily disease-modifying. They do not prevent infection. Precautionary doses are primarily aimed at reducing the severity of infection, hospitalization and death,” said Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research.

10. A UK study found that a third dose of the vaccine could provide up to 88 percent protection against hospitalizations from Omicron type infections.