The central government on Friday wrote a letter to states and union territories (UTs) to allow precautionary doses of the Covid-19 vaccine anytime after three months from the second dose as required by the destination country.
“Precautionary doses may be administered to such beneficiaries in less than 9 months at a minimum interval of 3 months from the date of administration of the second dose recorded in Cowin as per the requirements of the destination country,” the health ministry said in the letter to the states.
The Health Ministry received several requests for early administration of precautionary doses to those who need to undertake international travel for educational purposes, employment opportunities, participation in sports tournaments, attending bilateral and multilateral meetings as part of the official Indian delegation and business engagements, Additional Secretary Manohar Agnani said in the letter.
Based on the recommendations of experts, the competent authority has approved the advance administration of the precautionary dose required by the country of destination for these overseas travelers, subject to a minimum period of 90 days between the second dose and the precautionary dose. Provisions for the same have been made in Co-WIN, the letter said.
However, India began administering preventive doses of vaccines to healthcare and frontline workers and the over-60 population on Jan. 10 this year.
However, the central government has allowed everyone over the age of 18 to receive the precautionary doses after completing 9 months of their second dose on April 10.
Meanwhile, the covid-19 vaccination coverage in India has crossed the milestone of Rs 191 crore with over 13 lakh doses of vaccine administered till 7 p.m. on Friday, according to the health ministry report.
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