COVID-19 free booster dose: All adults in the age group of 18-75 years will be able to get a free booster or precautionary dose at government COVID vaccine centres from today as part of the Central government’s 75-day free booster drive. COVID-19 free booster dose for age above 18 starts from today.
Tweeting on the decision, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that it would further strengthen India’s fight against COVID-19 and add an extra layer of safety. “I urge all those eligible to get their precaution dose at the earliest,’’ Mr. Mandaviya added. India’s cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage exceeds 199.12 crore, and over 3.76 crore first dose vaccines have been administered for the 12-14 years age group as on July 13, the Health Ministry said.
According to government data, 96% of India’s population has been administered the first dose of COVID vaccines while 87% of people have taken both doses. On April 10 this year, India began administering precaution doses of COVID-19 vaccines to all aged above 18 years. The Centre recently reduced the gap between the second and precaution doses of COVID-19 vaccines from nine to six months after a recommendation from the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI).
Also, to accelerate the pace of vaccination and encourage booster shots, the government launched the second round of the ‘Har Ghar Dastak campaign 2.0’ across States on June 1. The two-month programme is currently underway. The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16, 2021, with healthcare workers inoculated in the first phase. Vaccination of frontline workers started from February 2, 2021.
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On March 1, 2021, COVID-19 vaccination began for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 years and above with specified comorbid conditions. Vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years began on April 1, 2021. The government then decided to expand the drive by allowing everyone above 18 years to be inoculated against COVID from May 1, 2021. Inoculation of those in the age group of 15-18 years began on January 3 this year. The country began inoculating children aged 12-14 years from March 16.
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