Precautionary Covid-19 Vaccine Dose Will Be Same As Jab Administered Before: Health Ministry

Healthcare workers, frontline workers and people above 60 years of age having comorbidities are eligible for the precautionary dose after 9 months of taking the second dose of the vaccine.

(Representative Image/Getty)

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing rise in daily Coronavirus caseload, Union Health Ministry on Wednesday said that the precautionary Covid-19 vaccine dose will be the same vaccine as has been given previously.

While addressing a press conference, NITI Aayog's Dr. VK Paul said that those who have received Covaxin will receive Covaxin and those who have received primary two doses of Covishield will receive Covishield.

As per Health Ministry, healthcare workers, frontline workers and people above 60 years of age having comorbidities are eligible for the precautionary dose after 9 months of taking the second dose of the vaccine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier announced that precautionary doses will be rolled out in the country from January 10.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry also said that an upsurge of Covid-19 cases is happening in cities and the Omicron variant is the predominant circulating strain.

It, however, said there is no need to panic and one must be alert, disciplined and prepared, adding that the country will face this phase of the pandemic as well.

Addressing the presser, Paul also noted that India reported over 6.3 times rise in Covid cases in the last eight days. There has been a sharp rise in case positivity from 0.79 per cent on December 29 to 5.03 per cent on January 5, he said.

India witnesses sharp surge in #COVID19 cases #COVID Case positivity has increased from 0.79% to 5.03%

6.3 times increase noticed in last 8 days

- @MoHFW_INDIA pic.twitter.com/Bu8w4zyLCw

— PIB India (@PIB_India) January 5, 2022

Six states/UTs now have over 10,000 active Covid cases.

The ministry also stated that Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Gujarat are emerging as states of concern due to the surge in Coronavirus cases.

Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Jharkhand are some of the emerging states of concern that are witnessing an increase in weekly cases and positivity rates.

- @MoHFW_INDIA
#IndiaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/NKUJtgokHs

— PIB India (@PIB_India) January 5, 2022

A total of 28 districts are reporting over 10 per cent weekly Covid positivity, while 43 districts are reporting weekly positivity between 5-10 per cent, the officials said.