COVID vaccination 2.0: Here is how 60 plus people can avail booster dose from Jan 10

 NEW DELHI: Centre has done away with the mandatory medical certificate for people above 60 years with comorbidities for the booster dose.

 The decision was taken after a meeting of health secretary Rajesh Bhushan with states on Tuesday. It was decided that those above 60 years can avail the precautionary dose without a doctor’s certificate.

Besides, personnel deployed in election duty will also qualify as frontline workers and be eligible to receive the booster dose on completion of nine months from the second dose. CoWin will send reminder messages to all those who are eligible for the third dose, which will be reflected in digital vaccination certificates, the health ministry said.

States have been advised to set up separate vaccination centers dedicated to children between 15-18 years.

Centre has projected 7.40 crore children between 15-18 years, with UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh accounting for the maximum load. Besides, 2.75 crore people in the 60-plus age group with comorbidities are projected across the country.

Bhushan chaired a workshop through video conference on Tuesday with all states and UTs to review the roll-out of vaccination for the 15-18 age group and the precautionary third dose for vulnerable categories and those in the 60-plus age group with comorbidities.

He said only Covaxin is to be administered in the 15-18 age group. Eligible children can either register themselves on CoWin from January 1 or avail of a walk-in registration when vaccination commences from January 3. States were informed they have the option to designate some Covid vaccination centers exclusively for the 15-18 age group which can also be reflected on CoWin.