All healthcare workers, front line workers, and people aged 60 years and above with comorbidities who have received two doses of COVID19 vaccine will be eligible to take the third dose of COVID19 vaccine termed as the ‘precaution’ dose, starting January 10.

Such beneficiaries will be able to access the vaccination for ‘precaution’ dose through their existing Co-WIN accounts. The Union health ministry has said that there is no need for new registration for taking the ‘precaution’ dose.

“There is no need for new registration on CoWIN. Those who have taken two doses of COVID19 vaccine and are eligible for precaution dose can directly take an appointment or walk-in to any COVID19 vaccination centre,” stated the Union health ministry in its statement dated January 8.

Schedules for which will be published today, January 8, said the ministry. It added that an online appointment facility will also start this evening while vaccination with onsite appointment will start on January 10.

The ‘precaution’ vaccine dose to be given to such beneficiaries will be the same as that of the first two doses. In other words, those who have received Covaxin will receive Covaxin while those who have received the two doses of Covishield will receive Covishield.

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Citizens will be administered the ‘precaution’ dose after the completion of nine months or 39 weeks from the date of administration of the second dose of the COVID19 vaccine. Co-WIN system will send SMS to such beneficiaries for availing the precaution dose when the dose becomes due, according to the Union health ministry guidelines dated December 27, 2021.

The details of administration of the precaution dose will be reflected in the vaccination certificates of beneficiaries.

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So far, more than 1,500 million vaccine doses have been administered in the country so far with 90 per cent of the adult population vaccinated with the first dose of the vaccine and 66 per cent with two doses. Over 20 million COVID19 vaccine doses have been administered to children in the age group of 15-17 years. Vaccination for this age group started five days back on January 3.

Meanwhile, India has logged 141,986 new COVID19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking active caseload to 4,72,169. Over 3,000 Omicron cases have been detected in the country so far.

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