India to start precautionary COVID shots for healthcare workers, senior citizens; know details
It should be noted that apart from India, several other countries have already started administering third and even fourth vaccine doses to combat Covid-19.
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New Delhi, December 27: Amid the rising cases of COVID's new variant 'Omicron', India is going to start administering "precautionary shots" or "booster shots" of the COVID-19 vaccine to frontline workers and people above 60 years of age with co-morbidities from January 10.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on December 25. Notably, in his address, PM Modi called the booster dose a 'precautionary dose'. PM Modi said, "The government has decided that precaution doses of the COVID vaccine will be started for healthcare and frontline workers from January 10, 2022."
Who will be given booster doses?
The "precautionary doses," known popularly as "booster doses," would be administered to healthcare and frontline workers. While people above 60 years of age with co-morbidities are also eligible for the booster dose, PM Modi said that such doses would be optional for this group, and they could take them only after the doctor's recommendation.
With the emergence of the highly contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus, many fully vaccinated people are at risk of getting infected again.
Covid-19 precaution dose: Documents needed
Senior citizens will have to show a medical certificate that shows they have specified co-morbidities to be eligible for a precautionary dose. They will have to get a certificate from a registered medical practitioner that can be scanned and uploaded on the CoWIN portal or produced at a vaccination center.
Which vaccine will be given as a booster dose?
It is not clear yet which vaccine will be used for the booster dose in India.
It should be noted that apart from India, several other countries have already started administering third and even fourth vaccine doses to combat Covid-19. Till now, the US, UK, Israel, ITALY, South Africa, Germany, have started administering booster doses.
Meanwhile, 7,189 new Covid cases were reported in the country Sunday. Omicron cases have gone up to 415 nationwide.
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