The booster dose drive will be held as a part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the grand celebrations to mark the 75th year of Independence in India.
New Delhi: All adults will get free booster doses of Covid-19 vaccines at government-run centres under a special drive which will run for the next 75 days from Friday, said authorities on Wednesday.
The drive will be held as a part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the grand celebrations to mark the 75th year of Independence in India. The drive will also look to better the booster dose coverage in India.
So far, less than 1 per cent of the target population of 77 crore in the 18-59 age group have been administered the precaution dose.
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An estimated 26% of the 16 crore population above 60 years of age have received the booster dose in India. Talking to the media, an official said, “Most of the people in India have taken their second dose around nine months ago. Studies at the 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 dose will increase the immune response.”
“The government is planning to start a special drive for 75 days under which individuals aged between 18 and 59 years will be administered precaution doses for free at government vaccination centres starting from July 15,” he said.
The Union Health Ministry last week reduced the gap between the second and the precaution dose of Covid-19 vaccine for all beneficiaries from nine to six months. This came after a recommendation from the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI).
