New fresh registration required for precautionary vaccine dose: Centre

New Delhi: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday said the beneficiaries of precautionary COVID-19 vaccine dose are not required to do new registration.

Administration of precaution dose of Covid vaccines will begin from January 10. Health and frontline workers, and those above 60 years age with co-morbidities will be eligible to get the 'precaution dose' or booster shot.

However, precaution dose will be administered with a gap of nine months after the second dose

The eligible population who have taken two doses of COVID-19 vaccine can directly take an appointment or walk-in to any COVID vaccination centre.

The Union Health Ministry said thag the schedules will be published on January 8 And the online appointment facility will also start by Friday evening.

Meanwhile, the Centre has already said that the precautionary COVID-19 vaccine dose will be the same vaccine as administered previously in the first two doses.

"Precautionary COVID-19 vaccine dose will be the same vaccine as has been given previously. Those who have received Covaxin will receive Covaxin, those who have received primary two doses of Covishield will receive Covishield," said Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, NITI Aayog during media briefing of Union Health Ministry on Wednesday.

As per government's projections, nearly three crore health and frontline workers are estimated to be eligible in January to get the booster or "precaution dose" of Covid vaccine.

Besides, 2.75 crore people in the 60 plus age group with co-morbidities are projected across the country. UP, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have most people in this category.

However, very few such people may actually be eligible for receiving the third dose in January after completing the 9 months gap.