India Starts Booster Dose - Frontline Workers & Senior Citizens
Precautionary third doses of vaccines -- announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month -- are now being given to health and frontline workers and senior citizens.
India has started administering booster shots or third doses for frontline & health workers. Even normal people above the age of 60 with comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension and other chronic ailments have the option of getting the booster on the advice of their doctor. People can take the third dose only after 9 months of taking the second dose. The health ministry had earlier said that the third dose will be similar to the previous 2 doses i.e. if the first dose was Covaxin then the booster shot would also be Covaxin. There will be no mix and match. The health ministry has said there is no need to register for the booster vaccine doses. Those eligible can directly take an appointment or walk into any vaccination centre. There is no decision yet on booster doses for all adults.
A study from the UK has found that a third dose of vaccine can provide up to 88 per cent protection against hospitalisation from infection by the Omicron variant. The Central Government has said that only five to 10 percent of the current Covid cases this time needed the hospitalisation so far. However, the situation may change at any time. This is why people need to follow all covid safety measures and follow government rules.
