TBM Staff - Delhi The Central government has decided to reduce the gap between the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot for persons travelling abroad to a minimum of 90 days or three months, sources said on Wednesday.
At present, the time interval between the second vaccine shot and the precaution dose is nine months.
The decision to relax the norms about the precaution dose for overseas travellers was based on recommendations by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), PTI reported citing sources.
The NTAGI had recommended that those who need to travel overseas can take the precaution dose as required by the country they are travelling to before the mandatory nine-month gap.
“The issue was discussed last week and the NTAGI had recommended that those who need to travel overseas can take the booster shot, before the stipulated nine-month waiting period, as required by the country they are travelling to,” a source said, PTI reported.
The Union Health Ministry is yet to make an official announcement in this regard.
Earlier, there were reports that government is likely to reduce the gap between the second dose and the precaution shot from the current nine months to six months.
As of now, all those above the age of 18 who have completed nine months after the administration of the second shot of COVID-19 vaccine are eligible for the precaution dose.
India began administering precaution doses of vaccines to healthcare and frontline workers and those aged 60 and above with comorbidities from January 10.
In March, the precaution dose was made available to all people aged above 60 as the government removed the comorbidity clause. India on April 10 began administering precaution doses of COVID-19 vaccines to all aged above 18 years at private vaccination centres. (Source: Timesnow)
