India’s “precautionary dose” of Covid-19 vaccines for those who are above the age of 60 with comorbidities, healthcare workers, and frontline workers began today as the country recorded a steep rise in fresh infections over the last week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on December 24 announced precautionary shots for vulnerable populations and those at higher risk of contracting Covid-19. Here are some states that have
Delhi
Amid a surging third wave of coronavirus infections, Delhi on Monday started administering a third or “precautionary dose” to people aged 60 or more, healthcare workers and frontline workers who took their second dose of vaccine nine months ago. Around three lakh such people have become eligible for the third dose from Monday. The beneficiaries will receive a precautionary dose of the same vaccine they took 39 weeks ago. They will have to book a slot using their existing Cowin account.
Madhya Pradesh
The Madhya Pradesh health department started administering the precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare and frontline workers and co-morbid people aged 60 and above on Monday, with Bhopal collector and other senior officials taking their jabs. A special camp for healthcare and frontline workers was organised at the collector’s office in the state capital Bhopal. Collector Avinash Lavania and Inspector General (Bhopal rural) Irshad Wali were among those who took the precaution dose at the camp.
The drive to administer the precaution doses to eligible people was also going on at the Pandit Khushilal Sharma Government Ayurveda College in Bhopal, as well as other places across the state. Those who had received their second jabs before April 12, 2021 are eligible for the precaution dose on Monday through pre-registration on CoWIN portal, said Dr Santosh Shukla, director, vaccination, National Health Mission.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday launched the precaution dose against COVID-19 for healthcare workers, frontline workers and those above 60 years of age with co-morbidities in the state. Those who have completed nine months (39 weeks) from the date of the second dose administered to them are eligible to receive the precaution dose from today.
The same vaccine that has been administered for the previous two doses will be given as the precaution dose, according to the State health department.
Gujarat
The Gujarat health department on Monday started administering the precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine to frontline and healthcare workers as well as co-morbid people aged 60 and above, with an aim to cover nine lakh eligible people. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was present at an urban health centre in the state capital Gandhinagar during the commencement of the drive, as per a release issued by the Chief Minister’s Office.
Approximately nine lakh eligible people will be administered the precaution doses at around 3,500 vaccination centres where more than 17,000 health workers would be engaged for the purpose, the release said.
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