Booster dose registration for senior citizens – things you must know

Even as India started its Covid-19 vaccination for children aged between 15- and 18 years) from today, booster dose for frontline workers and the people above 60 years with comorbidities will begin only from next week from 10 January 2022.

The government will be sending an SMS to the eligible elderly population to remind them for taking the third dose which is the booster dose. All persons aged 60 years and above will be eligible for a booster dose only if they are vaccinated with two doses.

“The prioritization and sequencing of this precaution dose would be based on the completion of 9 months i.e. 39 weeks from the date of administration of second dose," as per the guidelines prescribed by the government.

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The government has recently done away with the requirement of mandatory certificates for senior citizens with comorbidities. “All persons aged 60 years and above with co-morbidities will not be required to produce/submit any certificate from the doctor, at the time of administration of precaution dose,” a government statement said.

However, it has suggested that senior citizens with comorbidities must go for the precaution done only after the advice of the doctor.

Earlier, the government has said that senior citizens with comorbidities were required to inform about their issues prior to vaccination and must carry a certificate while going for the third dose also referred to as precautionary dose.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had already defined comorbidities and the criteria.

All the healthcare workers, frontline workers and citizens aged 60 years or above with comorbidities will be able to access the vaccination for precaution dose through their existing Co-WIN account.

As per the guidelines prescribed by the government, eligibility of such beneficiaries for the precaution dose will be based on the date of administration of second dose as recorded in the Co-WIN system.

“Co-WIN system will send SMS to such beneficiaries for availing the precaution dose when the dose becomes due," the health ministry said in a statement.

Registration and appointment services can be accessed through the online and the onsite modes, and the details of administration of the precaution dose will be reflected in the vaccination certificates.