New Delhi: India recently announced “precaution doses” of Covid-19 vaccines for those who are above the age of 60 with comorbidities. The booster shots will be given starting today even as the highly transmissible Omicron variant pushes the country’s Covid figures higher.
There would be no mix-and-match of vaccines for the precaution dose. The beneficiaries would be given the same vaccine as their previous two jabs.
According to guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry, the gap between the date of administering the second dose of vaccine and the precaution dose would be nine months (39 weeks).
CoWIN will send reminder messages to all those eligible for this dose and after administration of the shot, it will be noted in the digital vaccination certificate.
Online appointments for precaution dose began on the CoWin portal on Saturday evening. However, there is also the option of an onsite appointment and it will start on January 10.
Acccording to the Health Ministry, private hospitals that function as COVID-19 Vaccination Centres can inoculate their eligible staff members.
Those aged 60 years and above with comorbidities will not be required to produce or submit any certificate from a doctor at the time of administration of the precaution dose of vaccine.
All senior citizens aged 60 years or above with comorbidities will be able to get the precaution dose using their current Co-WIN account.
How to register?
• Beneficiaries can register in advance, on-site, or through the Co-WIN Facilitated Cohort Registration procedure.
• Eligibility will be based on the date of administration of 2nd dose as recorded in the Co-WIN system.
• Verification will be done preferably using Aadhaar.
