Guwahati: Assam started precautionary third dose of COPVID-19 vaccines for healthcare workers, frontline workers, and immune-compromised seniors today.
In Guwahati, the booster dose were being given to the senior citizens above 60 with comorbidities, and health and frontline workers at the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital.
About 5.75 crore people are eligible for the third dose across the country in the ongoing drive: 2.75 crore above the age of 60, 1 crore healthcare workers, and 2 crore frontline workers.
The health ministry said there was no need to register for the precautionary vaccine dose.
Those eligible can directly take an appointment or walk into any vaccination centre. There is no decision yet on booster dose for all adults.
Those above the age of 60 years who have co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension and other chronic ailments have the option of getting the precaution dose on the advice of their doctor.
Those eligible for booster shots will, however, get them only 9 months after receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The third dose will be the same vaccine the people have received for their first and second doses.
This means individuals who received two doses of Serum Institute’s Covishield vaccine will get a third dose of the same. Those who got Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin will get a third jab of that vaccine.
A study from the UK has found that a third dose of vaccine can provide up to 88 per cent protection against hospitalisation from infection by the Omicron variant.
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