Free covid precaution dose for 18-59 age group at govt centres gets under way

New Delhi, July 15

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People aged 18 and above will get free precaution doses of the covid vaccine at government vaccination centres from Friday under a 75-day special drive initiated by the Union Health Ministry.

The drive, aimed at boosting the administration of covid precaution doses among the eligible population, is being held as part of the government’s Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched the ‘Covid Vaccination Amrit Mahotsav’ at a Nirman Bhawan inoculation camp on Friday.

The camp saw enthusiastic participation as officials and staff members queued up for the precaution dose.

So far, less than one per cent of the target population of 77.1 crore in the 18-59 age group has been administered the precaution dose. However, 25.84 per cent of the 16.8 crore eligible population aged 60 and above as well as health-care and frontline workers have received the booster dose, an official source said.

“A majority of the Indian population got their second dose 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… giving a booster increases the immune response,” the official had said earlier.

At a meeting on Thursday, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan urged states and Union territories to hold special vaccination camps on various Yatra routes, as well office complexes, railway stations, schools and colleges to administer precaution doses of the covid vaccine to all aged 18 and above.

They were advised to organise special vaccination camps on the routes of Char Dham Yatra (Uttarakhand), Amarnath Yatra (Jammu and Kashmir), Kanwar Yatra (all states and Union territories of north India) as well as major melas and congregations.