Which COVID-19 Vaccine Will Be Given As Booster Dose?

The government of India announced on December 24 that frontline workers, healthcare workers and senior citizens with comorbidities will be given 'precaution dose' or third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This came after the Omicron variant cases in the country started to rise.

The Centre is yet to clarify which vaccine will be given as the third dose to the eligible categories. However, in a report by NDTV, a health ministry official had stated that there will be no mixing and matching of vaccines and the third dose will be of the same vaccine taken by an individual in the first and second doses.

COVID-19 Vaccine For Third Dose:

On Thursday, the government announced that the decision on which vaccine will be given as the third dose is expected soon. In a press conference, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director-General Dr Balram Bhargava said that the Centre will issue clear recommendations on the matter before January 10, 2022. The rollout of the third dose is supposed to start from the same date.

Dr Bhargava said, "We are having an extensive debate (on which vaccine to be given as a precautionary dose). We've had a series of meetings in NTAGI (National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation) yesterday, the day before and today. We are deciding what is the population that will require this vaccine which includes frontline workers, healthcare workers and 60 plus with comorbidities. What are new vaccines available and which vaccine can be given in terms of safety and in terms of efficacy," Dr Bhargava said.

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He added that ICMR is analysing all the available data in terms of which vaccine can be given, whether it is going to be the same or a different one. He said that NTAGI and the drug controller are meeting and the decision will be taken soon.

As per the government, the children between 15 and 18 years of age will be vaccinated from January 3, 2022. The health ministry recently issued the 'Guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination of children between 15-18 years and precaution dose to healthcare and frontline workers and 60 years population with comorbidities'. The registration for the vaccination of children will start from January 1, 2022.

Those taking the third dose are required to maintain a nine month long gap between the second dose and the third dose. They too can register from their existing Co-WIN accounts, the guidelines for the same will come into effect from January 3, 2022.

As per the registered date of second dose on the Co-WIN portal, the government will send out SMS to the eligible candidates for the third dose when it is due.