New Delhi: The government on Wednesday (August 10) approved Biological E’s Corbevax as a precaution dose for those above 18 years fully vaccinated with either Covishield or Covaxin. This is for the first time that a booster dose that is different from the one used for primary vaccination against Covid has been allowed in the country. All necessary changes in administration of heterologous precaution dose using Corbevax to those eligible and due for precaution dose have been made on the Co-WIN portal. This provision would be live from August 12, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to states and Union territories.
Also Read: COVID-19 Vaccine: Gap Between Second COVID Jab And Booster Dose Reduced From 9 To 6 Months
He said that Corbevax will be available as precaution dose after completion of 6 months or 26 weeks from the date of administration of the second dose of either Covaxin or Covishield vaccines for population above 18 years.
This enables use of Corbevax as a heterologous COVID-19 vaccine for precaution dose administration in this age group, Mr Bhushan said.
There will be no change in existing guidelines for homologous precaution dose administration of Covaxin and Covishield, he said.
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said this will further strengthen India’s arsenal against COVID-19.
“… @MoHFW_India approves Corbevax as #PrecautionDose for those above 18 yrs vaccinated with either Covishield or Covaxin, 6 months or 26 weeks after administration of 2nd dose. This provision would be live from 12th August,” he said in a tweet.
Further Strengthening India's arsenal against COVID-19.@MoHFW_India approves Corbevax as #PrecautionDose for those above 18 yrs vaccinated with either Covishield or Covaxin, 6 months or 26 weeks after administration of 2nd dose.
This provision would be live from 12th August.
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) August 10, 2022
Also Read: Free Covid Precaution Dose For All Adults At Government Centres Gets Underway
In addition to the existing homologous precaution dose, the option of a heterologous precaution dose with Corbevax would be available to all persons above 18 years of age.
The decision has been taken based on scientific evidence, global practices and the recommendations of domain knowledge experts.
Instruction in this regard may be issued to all concerned officials and it may also be publicised widely. I look forward to your support and leadership in achieving high coverage of precaution dose to all due beneficiaries at Covid vaccination centres during the ongoing ‘Covid Vaccination Amrit Mahotsav’ campaign, Mr Bhushan said in the letter.
India’s COVID-19 vaccination program has achieved the historical milestone of administering more than 2 billion doses so far.
About 97 per cent of the 12 plus age population of the country has been covered with at least one dose and about 89 per cent with both doses. Considerable progress is also being made under “Covid Vaccination Amrit Mahotsav” (from 15 July to September 30), to cover eligible beneficiaries above 18 years with precaution dose, he said.
Also Read: PM Modi Writes To Vaccinators, Lauds Their Efforts As India Crosses 200 Crore Vaccine Doses Landmark
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
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