Over 5 Lakh People In Odisha To Be Eligible For ‘Precautionary Dose’ By January-End: Health Official

Bhubaneswar: Odisha began administering COVID-19 precautionary dose on Monday.

The booster dose is being given to healthcare and frontline workers, and those over 60 years of age with co-morbidities.

Speaking to the media, Family Welfare Director Bijay Panigarhi said that 17,52,838 persons will take the precautionary dose in Odisha. Till January end, 5,25,607 people will be eligible for it.

“Vaccination is being held in 3,616 session sites,” he added.

The eligible population, who have taken two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, can book the online slot on CoWin or walk into any COVID vaccination centre.

According to Health Department sources, messages will be sent to the phone numbers of the eligible persons once the gap of nine months is reached.

It is important to remember that there should be a gap of 9 months between the second dose and the precautionary dose. There will be no mix and match, and the third dose will be of the same vaccine received earlier.

The senior citizens with co-morbidities will not be required to produce a doctor’s certificate or prescription at the time of administration of the precaution dose.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, in a tweet on Sunday, said reminder SMSes have been sent to over one crore healthcare and frontline workers and senior citizens for their precaution dose.

On Sunday, the state government directed all district administrations to ensure that doctors, nurses and health workers, who have been assigned COVID duty, are inoculated with the booster dose on priority.