The Union Health Ministry announced on Friday that the precautionary dose will be administered. The doses will be accessible to everyone above the age of 18 years. The vaccination will be available at private healthcare centers.
The market price for the same is currently running at Rs. 600. Those who have gotten the second dosage of the Covid vaccine are eligible to receive the vaccination dosage. A total of 2.4 crore doses of the precautionary vaccination booster were administered. It was given to healthcare workers, frontline workers, and the population of the age group above the age of 60 years.
The private health care centers are scheduled to provide the dosages from the 10th of April. Those who were vaccinated with the second dosage 9 months ago can get the precautionary vaccine. Approximately 96 percent of the 15+ age group have gotten the first dose of the vaccine. The first and the second dosage both were administered to 83 percent of the population.
Additionally, within the age group of 12-14 years of age, 45 percent were found vaccinated with the first dosage. The execution of the precautionary dosage started back in March. Previously, it was only available to those above 60 years of age. Recently, the Health Care Ministry made it accessible to everyone above the age of 18 years.
The precautionary dosage was introduced in the market at the price of Rs. 600.
The price was set by the Serum Institute Of India. At the same price, a Covishield booster shot was available. Later, the hospitals were provided with the same at discounted prices.
“The ongoing free vaccination program through Government Vaccination Centres for the first and second dose to the eligible population as well as Precaution Dose to Healthcare Workers, Frontline Workers, and the 60+ population would continue and would be accelerated.”
Stated the Health Care Ministry in a statement to the reporters. The booster shots were declared necessary by the health care experts.
