Indians Aged 18-59 Eligible for Free Booster Doses for Next 75 Days From Today

The vaccination drive will be held as part of the government's 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.'

Image used for representational purposes.

(Photo: IANS)

People belonging to the 18-59 age group will receive free precaution doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at government vaccination centres under a 75-day special drive which began on Friday, 15 July.

"It will start from today and continue for the next 75 days. We'll try to vaccinate all the citizens between 18-59 years of age," Family Welfare Director and Nodal Officer for COVID Vaccination Dr Bijay Panigrahi told news agency ANI.

The drive, aimed at boosting the uptake of COVID-19 precaution doses, will be held as part of the government's 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India's Independence.

In a virtual meet, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan urged health secretaries of different states/union territories to ensure full COVID-19 vaccination coverage and ensure precaution doses for all eligible persons.

Bhushan, however, highlighted that there was a lower proportion of precaution dose coverage among population groups aged 18 years and above (8 per cent) and 60 years and above (27 percent), and called it a cause of concern.

The special vaccination drive to provide free precaution doses for eligible persons will be conducted for 75 days from 15 July to 30 September.

All those who are above 18 years of age and got their second vaccine dose at least six months (or 26 weeks) ago are eligible for the precaution dose.

(With inputs from ANI)