Covid-19 booster dose gap reduced to 6 months for all adults

The centre on Wednesday reduced the gap of booster doses from existing 9 months or 39 weeks to 6 months or 26 weeks.The ministry said that as per the recommendation, it has been decided all beneficiaries from 18- 59 years will be administered after completion of 6 months or 26 weeks from the date of administration of 2nd dose.

“In view of the evolving scientific evidence and global practices -Standing Technical Sub Committee’ (STSCI of -National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) has recommended to revise the duration between 2nd dose and precaution dose from existing 9 months or 39 weeks to 6 months or 26 weeks”, said union health ministry. The ministry confirmed that this has been endorsed by NTAGI.

“Therefore it has now been decided that the precaution dose for all beneficiaries from 18- 59 years will be administered after completion of 6 months or 26 weeks from the date of administration of 2″ dose at Private Covid Vaccination Centers (CVCs)”, said ministry in a letter to the states.

The letter reads further that for beneficiaries aged above 60 years and above as well as the Health Care Workers (HCWs) & Front Line Workers (FLWs) precaution dose would be administered after completion of 6 months or 26 weeks from the date of administration of 2nd dose at Government CVCs free of charge.”Instructions in this regard may be issued to all the concerned officials and it may also be publicized widely I look forward to your support and leadership for extending the benefits of precaution dose to all due beneficiaries at Covid Vaccination Centers (CVCs) as well as at household level during the ongoing Har Ghar Dastak 2.0 Campaign”, said Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan in the letter.