On December 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that healthcare, frontline workers and those who are above 60 years and have comorbidities will be eligible for a ‘precaution dose’ from January 21. The use of ‘precaution’ doses had arisen as the question is to why Centre had not termed it ‘booster’ doses as is the global norm.
What are India’s ‘precautionary doses’?
- As per Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)'s guidelines, beneficiaries above 18 years who have received two doses, are eligible to receive another dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
- The prioritisation and sequencing of this precaution dose would be based on the completion of 9 months, or 39 weeks, from the date of administration of the second dose.
- Co-WIN system will send SMS to such beneficiaries for availing the precaution dose when the dose becomes due.
- The details of administration of the precaution dose will be suitably reflected in the vaccination certificates.
- Private vaccination centres can charge up to a maximum of Rs 150 as service charge for vaccination, over and above the cost of the vaccine.
- Precaution dose will be of same vaccine which has been used for administration of first and second dose.
