India@75: Free Covid booster shot for those above 18 from July 15 for 75 days
To commemorate 75 years of independence, the Narendra Modi government has decided that from 15th July 2022 till the next 75 days, citizens above 18 years of age will be given covid booster doses free of cost.
FollowTo commemorate 75 years of independence, the Narendra Modi government has decided that from 15th July 2022 till the next 75 days, citizens above 18 years of age will be given covid booster doses free of cost.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur made this announcement during a briefing on Wednesday. The decision comes when India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 199.12 crores (provisional reports till 7 am on Wednesday).
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As for those below the age of 18, vaccination for whom began on March 16 2022, first doses have been administered to more than 3.76 crore adolescents.
To note, fewer than 1 per cent of the target 18-59 age group population of 77 crores have received a precautionary dose. However, around 26 per cent of the estimated 16 crores eligible population aged above 60 and above and frontline workers have been administered the booster dose.
According to government officials, most Indians got their second dose over nine months ago. Studies conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research have suggested that antibody levels wane around six months after the primary vaccination with both doses.
Following a recommendation from the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization, the Union Health Ministry last week reduced the gap between the precautionary dose of COVID-19 vaccine and the second dose for all beneficiaries from nine to six months. The government initiated the second round of the 'Har Ghar Dastak campaign 2.0' across states and UTs on June 1 to accelerate the pace of vaccination and encourage booster shots. The two-month programme is currently underway.
Government data shows that the first dose of the Covid vaccine had been administered to 96 per cent of India's population, while the second dose was taken by 87 per cent of the people.
