Doctor's prescription not needed for 'precautionary' dose: Govt

Those above 60 years of age with co-morbidities will not be required to produce a doctor’s certificate or prescription at the time of receiving the 'precautionary' dose, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

Dismissing media reports, the ministry clarified that the Union government had not issued any directions in this regard.

Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan chaired a workshop through video conference with all states and Union territories to review the rollout of vaccination for the age group 15-18 and precautionary third dose for vulnerable categories—healthcare workers, frontline workers, and those above 60 with co-morbidity. 

Vaccination for the age group of 15-18 years is scheduled to begin from Monday while administration of precautionary dose for the vulnerable categories will begin from January 10. The health ministry has already issued a detailed guidelines in this regard.

Only Covaxin will be administered to children in 15-18 age group. The Centre will share the supply schedule of Covaxin with all the states and UTs in the next few days, the health ministry said in a statement.

“Potential beneficiaries can either register themselves on Co-WIN from the 1st of January, 2022 or avail of a walk-in registration when vaccination commences from the 3rd of January. Those with a birth year of 2007 or before will be eligible for vaccination under this category,” it said.

The statement further said that all established protocols regarding vaccination should be followed for the 15-18 years age group. Beneficiaries will have to wait for half-an-hour when they will be monitored for AEFI and will be eligible for the second dose only after 28 days.

States were informed that they have the option to designate some COVID Vaccination Centers as dedicated CVCs for the 15-18 age group, which can also be reflected on Co-WIN.