Free booster dose for citizens above 18 years of age will begin from today for the next 75 days. The facility as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations and Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal will be available at all government COVID Vaccination Centres (CVCs), reported news agency ANI. The special drive is aimed at increasing the precaution dose of COVID vaccine among the eligible adult population.
Those eligible for the precaution dose include all persons above 18 years who have completed 6 months (or 26 weeks) from the date of administration of second dose.
In a virtual meeting chaired by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Thursday, states/UTs have been urged to implement 'COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava' for 75 days as 'Jan Abhiyaan' with massive mass mobilisation, through a camp approach, reported ANI.
While addressing the meet, Bhushan stressed on the low percentage of precaution doses uptake among population groups aged 18 years and above (8 per cent) and persons aged 60 years and above (27 per cent).
States/UTs were also advised to ensure that the available COVID vaccine doses are consumed in a timely manner and no dose expires in both government and private facilities, which had been the case earlier.
And to ensure that States/UTs do not fall short of vaccines, the Centre will procure and supply (free of cost) 75 per cent of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country.
A marginal increase in COVID cases has been observed across the country recently, which has triggering some concerns. India recorded more than 20,000 cases on Thursday, highest in a day since February.
(With ANI inputs)