Booster dose vaccination for elders, health workers to take-off in TS today

Hyderabad: Health Minister T Harish Rao will formally launch the booster dose vaccination campaign in the state at the Government Unani hospital in Charminar on Monday.

The booster dose, a third shot of Covid vaccine, is being made available to all those over the age of 60 years, frontline and health care workers, as well as those suffering with other comorbidities that makes them vulnerable to Covid infection.

There are an estimated 41.6 lakh people who are over the age of 60 in Telangana according to health department data. From among these, around 20 per cent, or 8.32 lakh are believed to be also suffering from comorbidities.

Anyone over 60 years of age, or those eligible from other categories for the booster dose, or precautionary dose, can get their third shot starting Monday. However, they should have completed nine months after taking their second dose before receiving the third dose of the vaccine.

As per Government of India guidelines, the manufacturer of the third dose should be the same as the first two doses. For instance, if a person received two doses of Covishield vaccine, then the third dose will also be that of Covishield.

No prior appointments will be necessary and people can go to their near government vaccination centre to get their third dose, the government said here on Sunday.