Health Secy Discusses Rollout Of Booster Jab For All Above 18 With States; Check The Price & Eligibility

New Delhi:  Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Saturday held an orientation meeting of all Health Secretaries of States/UTs regarding precaution dose for the 18-59 age group.

All those who are more than 18 years of age and have completed nine months after receiving the second dose of the vaccine would be eligible for the precautionary third dose. It would be available on payment at private vaccination centres, from April 10. Private vaccination centres can charge only up to a maximum of Rs 150 as service charge for vaccination over and above the cost of the vaccine, he said.

Serum Institute of India (SII) has said the third dose of its Covishield vaccine would be priced at Rs 600 per shot. “End-users will pay Rs 600 for the booster dose and the hospitals will get at a discounted price,” it said in a statement.

Bharat Biotech, which manufactures Covaxin, is yet to announce its price.

The Health Secretary further said that the beneficiaries will receive the same vaccine as their first two doses. No fresh registrations would be required for precaution dose as all due beneficiaries are already registered on CoWIN, he added.

It was emphasized that all vaccinations must mandatorily be recorded on CoWIN platform and both the options of ‘Online appointment’ and ‘Walk-in’ registration and vaccination will be available at Private CVCs.

So far, only those above 60 years, healthcare workers and frontline workers were eligible for the third dose. Bhushan said the free vaccination programme through government vaccination centres for first and second doses as well as the precaution dose to healthcare workers, frontline workers and 60+ population would continue.

The states/UTs have been advised to accelerate the administration of ongoing free COVID-19 vaccination with 1st dose and 2nd dose to 12+ years population and optimal administration of precaution dose for those above 60 years, healthcare workers and frontline workers.