Govt Planning To Provide Covid Booster Shots To Everyone Above 18 Years: Report

Precaution doses are currently being given to healthcare and frontline workers, as well as individuals over the age of 60.

Representational Image. (Source: Getty Images)

New Delhi: The government is contemplating letting all persons above the age of 18 to receive a booster shot of the Covid vaccination in order to contain an increase in infections in certain parts of the world and to make foreign travel easier, according to the sources.

Precaution doses are currently being given to healthcare and frontline workers, as well as individuals over the age of 60, news agency PTI reported.

Following the recent removal of the comorbidity clause by the Union Health Ministry, all adults over the age of 60 are now eligible for the prophylactic dose of Covid vaccination.

The dose would be prioritised and sequenced depending on the completion of nine months to 39 weeks from the second dose's administration date.

"The government is considering to allow booster dose of Covid vaccine to all those above 18 years in view of a surge in infections in parts of the world and ease difficulties faced during international travel." a source was quoted by PTI in its report.

Covid Vaccination Drive

COVID-19 vaccination for youngsters aged 12 to 14 years began on March 16 this year in India.

The first phase of the nationwide vaccination drive began on January 16, 2021, with healthcare personnel receiving vaccinations. Frontline workers began receiving vaccinations on February 2 of last year.

The second phase of COVID-19 vaccination began on March 1 of last year for persons over the age of 60 and those aged 45 and over who have certain co-morbid disorders.

From April 1 of last year, India mandated vaccination for all adults above the age of 45.

From May 1 of last year, the government decided to broaden its vaccination campaign by enabling everyone above the age of 18 to be vaccinated against the viral disease.

The next round of Covid vaccination for teenagers aged 15 to 18 years old began on January 3 this year.

From January 10 this year, India began distributing prophylactic doses of the vaccines to healthcare and frontline workers, as well as people aged 60 and older with comorbidities.

(With PTI Inputs)