Centre has relaxed the norms for Covid-19 vaccine precaution dose.
Under new rules, citizens traveling overseas can get the jab before the nine months as per regulations laid down by the governments of the destination country.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the facilities will be made available on the CoWIN website soon.
“Indian citizens & students traveling overseas can now take the precaution dose as required by the guidelines of the destination country. This new facility will be available soon on the CoWIN portal,” he said in a tweet.
The decision to relax the norms about the precaution dose for overseas travelers by the Health Ministry was based on recommendations by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI).
Last week, the advisory panel had recommended that those who need to travel overseas can take the precautionary dose of the Covid vaccine as required by the country they are traveling to before the mandatory nine-month gap.
Currently all those above 18 years of age and having completed nine months after the second dose are eligible for precaution shots.
The announcement comes as the ministry had received several representations seeking the precaution dose for those who have to travel abroad for employment, business commitments, admission to foreign educational institutes, participation in sports events, and bilateral and multilateral meetings as part of India’s official delegation.
The comorbidity clause was removed in March making all people aged above 60 eligible for the precautionary dose of the Covid vaccine. On April 10, India began administering precaution doses of Covid-19 vaccines to all aged above 18 years at private vaccination centers.
