COVID booster doses for frontline workers, senior citizens begin today

Administration of booster dose to front line workers and senior citizen will begin across the country from Monday.

In a televised address on December 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement for a “precaution dose" for healthcare and frontline workers as well as those aged above 60 having the co-morbid condition.

The Union Health Ministry in its latest guidelines has set eligibility criteria for the precautionary dose as completion of nine months or 39 weeks from the date of administration of the second dose.

Also, the senior citizens with co-morbidity will not be required to produce or submit any certificate from a doctor at the time of administration of the precautionary dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the ministry's guidelines.

"Such persons are expected to obtain the advice of their doctor before deciding to avail of the precautionary dose or third dose," it said. (Inputs from UNI)