Senior citizens don't need doctor certificate for Covid vaccine booster dose

New Delhi: Senior citizens with co-morbidities will not be required to produce a doctor's certificate or prescription at the time of the administration of booster dose to prevent Covid-19 infection, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan chaired a workshop through video conference (VC) on Tuesday with all states and Union Territories to review the rollout of Covid vaccination for the 15-18 age group and booster third dose for vulnerable categories — healthcare workers (HCW), frontline workers (FLW), and senior citizens who have comorbidities. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="3936"] Representative image[/caption] Also read | Covid-19 vaccine: 15-18 age group to get Covaxin from Jan 3 As announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25, the vaccination for the 15-18 age group is scheduled to begin from January 3, 2022, while the administration of the precautionary third Covid vaccine dose for the vulnerable categories is to commence from January 10. In the context of the vaccination of the 15-18 age group, the Union Health Secretary informed the states/UTs that only Covaxin is to be administered in this category and additional doses of the vaccine will be sent to them. It said the Centre will share the supply schedule of Covaxin with all the states and UTs in the next few days. Potential beneficiaries can either register themselves on Co-WIN from January 1 or avail of walk-in registration when vaccination commences from January 3. Those with the birth year of 2007 or before will be eligible for vaccination under this category. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="4440"] Representative image[/caption] Also read | Yellow alert in Delhi amid steady uptick in Covid cases; restrictions back All established protocols regarding vaccination are to be followed for the 15-18 age group and beneficiaries are to wait for half an hour when they will be monitored for any 'adverse event' following immunisation (AEFI). They will be eligible for the second dose only after 28 days. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Representative image[/caption] -PTC News