Third vaccine shot: registrations for approved groups to open today
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The Union Health Ministry has announced that registrations for the 'precautionary' third dose of Covid-19 vaccines will be open for all approved groups on the CoWIN platform today. No new registrations are required for those eligible to get the booster, the MHA clarified in a statement published by ANI.
"Schedules will be published on January 8. The online appointment facility will also start by Friday evening. Vaccination with onsite appointment starts on January 10," news agency ANI reported, quoting a statement from the ministry.
On Friday, the Union health ministry said that the eligible population – healthcare workers, frontline workers and those above 60 years of age with comorbidities – who have already taken two doses of the vaccine, can directly book an appointment or walk in to any of the Covid-19 vaccination centres.
The third vaccine will be matched to whatever brand of vaccine was given in the first two doses and there will be no mixing of vaccines said Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, in a letter to states and UTs on Thursday.
"The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) has recommended the administration of the homologous vaccine for HCWS, FLWs and elders (more than 60 years of age) with co-morbidities i.e. the same vaccine that has been administered for the previous two doses would be given as the precaution dose to the eligible beneficiaries," the letter reads.
This vaccination drive comes after nearly a week of vaccinating the 15-18 age group, which makes up an estimated 7.6 crore of the total population of India. The decision to vaccinate teenagers with heir first dose and provide precautionary shots for vulnerable groups was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25, 2021.
Meanwhile, the country's vaccination drive administered 1.5 billion (150 crore) doses of the vaccine on Friday, a feat that was hailed by PM Modi and Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya. More than 1 crore children were vaccinated as of Wednesday alone.
