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New Delhi: A special vaccination drive starting next Friday will provide a booster dose of the Covid vaccine to all adults. The third dose will be available for 75 days at government centres.
The booster dose will be free of cost.
Less than 1% of the population aged 18-59 have received the booster dose. On the other hand, close to 26% of the estimated 16 crores eligible population aged 60 and above have received the third dose. Healthcare and frontline workers have also gotten the third dose of the vaccine.
An official said the majority of the Indian population got their second dose of the Covid vaccine over nine months ago. "Studies at ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) and other international research institutions have suggested that antibody levels wane around six months after the primary vaccination with both doses". The booster doses are being administered to increase the immune response.
Officials told PTI the drive is meant to improve the third-dose coverage. It will be organised as part of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations marking India's 75th Independence Day.
On June 1, the government launched the second round of the 'Har Ghar Dastak campaign 2.0' with the goal of increasing the pace of the vaccination drive. Around 96% of India's population has received the first dose of the Covid vaccine and 87% have received the second dose. Children between the ages of 12-14 started receiving the vaccine on March 16, 2022.
The ministry is also aiming to encourage people to get booster doses. India began providing booster doses to everyone above the age of 18 years on April 10, 2022.
After a recommendation from the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI), the Health Ministry has reduced the gap between the second and third dose to six months. Until last week, one had to wait nine months to be eligible to get the precaution dose.