Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, July 13: All adults would be eligible to receive free booster doses of the coronavirus vaccine from Friday at government facilities as part of a special campaign, officials announced on Wednesday.
The government’s ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations to honour the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence will include an effort to increase third-dose coverage.
Less than 1% of the 77 crore-strong target populations in the 18- to 59-year-old age range have received the precautionary dose to date.
However, according to a government official quoted by the news agency PTI, about 26% of the estimated 16 crore eligible people in the 60+ age group, as well as healthcare and frontline personnel, have already received the booster shot.
“A majority of the Indian population got their second dose over nine months ago. Studies at ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) and other international research institutions have suggested that antibody levels wane around six months after the primary vaccination with both doses… giving a booster increases the immune response,” the official said.
The time between the second and precautionary injection of the COVID-19 vaccine for all beneficiaries was shortened last week by the Union Health Ministry from nine to six months. The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization had recommended this (NTAGI).
On June 1, the government launched the second phase of the ‘Har Ghar Dastak campaign 2.0’ throughout all states in an effort to speed up immunisation rates and promote booster doses. Currently, the two-month programme is under progress.
Government statistics show that 96% of India’s population has received the first dose of the Covid vaccination, and 87% of people have received both doses.
Notably, India started giving COVID-19 vaccine prophylactic doses to all adults over the age of 18 on April 10 of this year.
