From July 15, Free COVID Booster Dose For 18-59 Age Group At Govt Centres

New Delhi: People in the 18-59 age group will be administered COVID-19 precaution doses free of cost at government vaccination centres as part of a 75-day special drive likely to begin from July 15.

The drive is part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence.

So far, less than 1 per cent of the 77-crore people in the 18-59 age group have taken the precaution dose, a PTI report said.

In comparison, 26 per cent of the 16-crore people aged 60 and above as well as healthcare and frontline workers have received the booster dose.

The Union Health Ministry last week reduced the gap between the second and precaution dose for all beneficiaries from nine to six months.

The government also initiated the second round of the ‘Har Ghar Dastak campaign 2.0’ across states and UTs on June 1. The two-month programme is currently under way.

According to government data, 96 per cent of India’s population has been administered the first dose while 87 per cent have taken both doses, the PTI report said.

On April 10 this year, India began administering precaution doses to all aged above 18.