Gap between second COVID-19 jab and booster dose reduced from 9 To 6 months

New Delhi, July 6: The government has reduced the gap between the second dose of the Covid vaccine and the precautionary jab from 9 months to 6 months.

Following the recommendation from the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), the Union Health Ministry decided to reduce the gap between the second jab and the booster dose. Corresponding changes have been made in the CoWIN system to facilitate the new vaccine regimen.

In a letter to states and Union Territories, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Wednesday said the revision was made following a recommendation of the Standing Technical Sub-Committee of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) which was arrived at keeping in view the evolving scientific evidence and global practices.

Bhushan said. "Therefore, it has now been decided that the precaution dose for all beneficiaries from 18-59 years will be administered after completion of six months or 26 weeks from the date of administration of the second dose at Private Covid Vaccination Centres.

"For beneficiaries aged above 60 years and above as well as the healthcare and frontline workers, precaution dose would be administered after completion of six months or 26 weeks from the date of administration of the second dose at government CVCs, free of charge," Bhushan said.

Instructions in this regard may be issued to all the officials concerned and it may also be publicized widely, the Union health secretary said. "I look forward to your support and leadership for extending the benefits of the precaution dose to all due beneficiaries at Covid vaccination centres as well as household level during the ongoing Har Ghar Dastak 2.0 campaign, he said in the letter addressed to chief secretaries and administrators of all states and Union Territories.

The COVID-19 precaution dose administration for age group 18-59 years also started from 10th April, 2022 onwards.

Meanwhile, India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 198.20 Cr (1,98,20,86,763) as per provisional reports till 7 am today.