India today started administering the “precautionary” third COVID dose to healthcare and frontline workers, as well as those above 60 years with co-morbidities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month announced the administration of precautionary doses amid rise in COVID cases, driven by the new Omicron variant.
"Corona warriors, healthcare, and frontline workers have a huge contribution in keeping the country safe… Therefore, from the point of view of precaution, the government has decided that to start administering "Precaution Doses" for healthcare and frontline workers," Modi said.
About 5.75 crore people are eligible for the third doses in the ongoing drive — 2.75 crore above the age of 60, 1 crore healthcare workers and 2 crore frontline workers. Those eligible for booster shots will, however, get them only 9 months after receiving the second dose of the Covid vaccine.
The health ministry has said there is no need to register for the precautionary 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.