New Delhi: The government has changed the rules for taking booster doses to protect against corona. Booster doses can now be taken after 6 months instead of 9. If you have taken a second dose, you will now have to wait 6 months or 26 weeks for a booster dose instead of 9 months.
Union Health Ministry reduces gap for COVID-19 precaution doses from existing 9 months to 6 months for those above 18 years pic.twitter.com/s7YmO3SwZh
– ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2022
The government said all people between the ages of 18 and 59 would now be given a booster dose after 6 months instead of 9 months. The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI), a government advisory body on vaccination, recommended reducing the gap between second and booster doses.
Vaccine recommended for children under 12 years of age
Apart from this NTAGI has recommended vaccination for children below 12 years of age. NTAGI sources said lower doses are being given in the 12-17 age group. They are in favor of improving it. People in this age group are at greater risk than those in the 12-year-old age group. There is no discussion from NTAGI yet on the use of CORBEVAX as a booster.
Wait 6 months or 26 weeks
In a letter to the Chief Secretaries and Administrations of all the States and Union Territories, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that in private Covid Vaccination Centers (CVCs) every person in the age group of 18-59 years should be given booster dose after completion of 6 months or 26 weeks after the second dose date. Can take.
They will be given a free dose
The letter said people aged 60 and over and health workers, front line workers would be given a free booster dose after completing 6 months or 26 weeks of the second dose. It is worth mentioning that so far I had to wait for 9 months to take booster dose to avoid corona. But after this decision of the government, those who have taken the second dose will be able to get the booster dose six months after the date of taking the dose.