Good News: Govt Reduces Gap For COVID Booster Dose To 6 Months

New Delhi: The Central government on Wednesday reduced the gap between second dose of COVID-19 vaccine and booster dose for all adults from nine to six months.

“The precaution dose for all beneficiaries from 18-59 years will be administered after completion of 6 months or 26 weeks from the date of administration of second dose at Private Covid Vaccination Centres (CVCs),” Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan wrote to chief secretaries and administrators of all states and Union Territories.

“For beneficiaries above 60 years and above as well as the Health Care Workers (HCWs) & Front Line Workers (FLWs), precaution dose would be administered after completion of 6 months or 26 weeks from the date of administration of second dose at Government CVCs, free of charge,” the letter read.

National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), the advisory body of the government, had last month recommended reducing the gap between second and third booster doses.

In May, the government had allowed citizens travelling overseas to receive the booster shot before the nine-month waiting period as required by guidelines of the destination country.