Free Covid booster doses for 18-59 age group from July 15

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• Jul 13, 2022 | Dhupali Das

The drive would be held as part of the government's Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to commemorate India's 75th anniversary of independence...

Digital Desk: People aged 18 to 59 will receive free preventive doses of the Covid vaccine at government vaccination centers as part of a 75-day special drive, which is expected to begin on July 15, official sources stated on Wednesday.

Reportedly, the drive would be held as part of the government's Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to commemorate India's 75th anniversary of independence. 

Till now, the precaution dose has only been provided to less than 1% of the 77 crore-strong target population in the 18-59 age group. However, an official source reported that the booster dose had been administered to about 26% of the estimated 16 crores eligible population aged 60 and over, as well as healthcare and frontline personnel.

"Most Indians had their second dose more than nine months ago. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and other foreign research organizations' studies have shown that the immune response is boosted by administering a booster shot six months after the original immunization with both dosages," the official stated.

"The government is preparing to launch a special drive for 75 days during which people aged 18 to 59 years will receive preventive doses for free at government vaccination centres starting on July 15," he added.

Last week, the Union Health Ministry shortened the nine-month interval between the covid-19 vaccine's second and precautionary doses for all beneficiaries to just six months. This was in response to a suggestion by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI).

On June 1, the government launched the second phase of the "Har Ghar Dastak campaign 2.0" throughout states and UTs to speed up immunization rates and promote booster doses. Currently, the two-month program is in progress.

Government statistics show that 96% of India's population has received the first dose of the Covid vaccine, and 87% of people have received both doses.

India started giving covid-19 vaccine precaution doses to all adults over the age of 18 on April 10 of this year.

The nationwide immunization campaign began on January 16 of last year, with the first round of vaccinations given to medical personnel. Frontline employees began receiving vaccinations on February 2 of last year.

For individuals over the age of 60 and those with certain comorbid diseases who are 45 years of age or older, covid-19 vaccination started on March 1 of last year.

Vaccination for persons over the age of 45 began on April 1 of last year. Therefore, the government decided to broaden the scope of the immunization campaign by enabling everyone above the age of 18 to receive the Covid vaccine starting on May 1 of last year.

The vaccination campaign for people between the ages of 15-18 began on January 3 of this year.

The nation started immunizing children between the ages of 12 and 14 on March 16.