Online Appointment For Precaution Covid Dose From Tomorrow, Says Health Ministry

Centre on Covid Vaccination: Healthcare and frontline workers and those above 60 years suffering from co-morbidities will be eligible for precaution dose from January 10.

Covid-19 testing at transit camp for Gangasagar mela (PTI)

New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry said the online appointment facility for precaution or booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine would start from Saturday evening. The Health Ministry said there was no need for new registration.

"Those who have taken two doses of Covid-19 vaccine can directly take an appointment or walk-in to any Covid vaccination centre. The online appointment facility will start by tomorrow evening. Vaccination with on-site appointment starts on January 10," the Health Ministry said.

Healthcare (HCWs) and frontline workers (FLWs) and those above 60 years suffering from co-morbidities will be eligible for precaution dose from January 10.

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

As per the government guidelines, nine months or 39 weeks should have elapsed since the administration of the second dose for the beneficiary to be eligible for the precaution dose.

The Centre has said the same Covid-19 vaccine that was administered as first two doses would be given as a precaution dose. The Centre has also said senior citizens are not required to produce doctors' certificates at the time of administration of precaution doses.

"Such persons are expected to obtain the advice of their doctors before deciding to avail of the precaution dose," the Health Ministry has said.

CoWIN, the Covid-19 vaccination platform, will send reminder messages to all those eligible for the precaution dose. The dose will reflect in the digital vaccination certificates after being administered.

All HCWs, FLWs, and citizens aged 60 years or above with comorbidities will be able to access the vaccination for precaution dose through their existing Co-WIN account.

As per government data, there are at least 137.5 million people above the age of 60 years who could be eligible for the precaution dose.