India Covid cases: Covid booster dose price has been reduced to Rs 225. (File)
New Delhi:
Private vaccination centers began administering the preventive “third” dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, also known as the booster dose, to the over-18s on Sunday.
The age limit for the booster injection came at a time when another highly transmissible XE variant of the coronavirus is being reported. However, official confirmation of the existence of this particular variant is yet to come.
Speaking with ANI, Pawan Seth, a professional at a private company, said: “The booster dose is important because it contributes to our existing immunity. With news of XE variants making their way into India, I think the booster dose a must is to avoid unnecessary calamities. We must not forget the second wave days.”
A gym trainer, Rakesh, said: “I’m the first in my family to get a (COVID) booster. I’m very excited. I think booster will help us to keep fighting the coronavirus, it’s important.”
On Saturday, two major manufacturers of the COVID vaccine lowered the price of the vaccine.
The price of the COVID booster dose has been reduced to Rs 225 with Covishield reducing the amount from Rs 600 and the Covaxin from Rs 1,200 per dose.
Notably, the Delhi government recently repealed the order prohibiting the wearing of face masks in public places.
The Union Ministry of Health announced on Friday the rollout of the precautionary third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for the over-18s in private vaccination centers from April 10.
Anyone over the age of 18 who has completed nine months after receiving the second dose will be eligible for the precautionary dose, the ministry said in a statement.
This facility would be available in all private vaccination centers.
India started administering precautionary doses on January 10 this year to primary care workers, health professionals and people over 60 years of age with comorbid conditions. Later, on March 16, the precautionary dose vaccination campaign was extended to all adults over the age of 60.
According to the Union Ministry of Health, India’s cumulative Covid 19 vaccination coverage exceeds 185.70 crore. More than 2.21 crore vaccine doses have been administered for the age group of 12-14 years.
Meanwhile, India’s active caseload currently stands at 11,132 as it has reported 1,054 new COVID cases in the past 24 hours.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.)
