Can you get a Covid booster dose in India? 5 important guidelines you need to know

As Covid cases increase at an exponential rate and the third wave upon us, booster doses are here for the rescue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the third dose of the Covid vaccine on December 25. Starting today, frontline workers and immuno-compromised people will be given a precautionary third dose. Just like earlier, there are many guidelines for the booster dose.

Here are 5 points on the booster dose which will clear all your doubts.

1. CAN YOU GET A BOOSTER DOSE? 

If you are:

1. a healthcare worker
2. a frontline worker
3. above 60 years of age with comorbidities

The government has announced a booster dose for healthcare workers and frontline Workers after their second dose. Plus, people aged 60 and above with co-morbidities like hypertension, diabetes and chronic ailments are eligible on advice of their doctor.

It is also wise for people with co-morbidities to check with their doctor before getting the third dose.

Currently, the third dose for all adults is yet to be announced.

2. GAP BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD DOSE

As per the guidelines, there should be a gap of

• 9 months - that is, 39 weeks - between the second and third dose.

Priority will be given to those who have completed their 9 months as per the date mentioned in the CoWIN app.

3. THERE IS NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED

For the third, precautionary dose, there is no need to re-register on the CoWIN app. The CoWIN app will send an SMS to eligible ones with the due date of the dose.

Eligible individuals can walk into any vaccination centre for booster shots and can directly make an appointment.

4. NO MIX AND MATCH OF VACCINE

Earlier, there was speculation that there may be a mix and match of vaccines. Now, as per the government’s announcement, there will be no interchange.

• Those who received Covaxin for the first two doses will get Covaxin only
• Similarly, a third dose of Covishield will be given to those who got Covishield for the first and second time

5. FREE OF COST FOR THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE

The booster shot will be given free of cost at government vaccination centres.

NOW, THE BIGGER QUESTION: DO YOU EVEN NEED A BOOSTER SHOT?

With Omicron hovering over our shoulder and the third wave disrupting life all over again, the conversation on the need for a booster dose is all the more relevant. A report by the UK Health Security Agency explained the effectiveness of the booster shot. According to the study, the third dose can boost the effectiveness of the vaccine against the virus to 52 to 88%.

With the allotment of the third dose to a few categories, we hope there will an announcement on the availability of the third dose for the other age groups soon.