As Cases Spike, Delhi Makes Booster Dose Of COVID Vaccine Free For 18-59 Age Group

Delhi government has become the first in the country to announce free precautionary doses of COVID-19 vaccines to everyone above the age of 18.

"In order to give the benefit of precaution dose to all eligible beneficiaries in Delhi, the same will be available for the 18-59 years age group, free of cost in all government CVCs from April 21, 2022," Delhi government's statement read.

Precautionary dose to be available for free to all eligible beneficiaries of 18 to 59 years age group in all Government Covid-19 Vaccination Centres: Delhi Govt pic.twitter.com/MlNfWgBYn3

ĄĒ ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2022

What the Union Health Ministry said on booster dose

The Union Health Ministry had earlier this month made the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine, which the government is calling precautionary dose available for all adults.

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However, unlike for the first two doses and the precautionary dose of frontline workers and those above the age of 60, the third dose for the 18-59 age group was not free and was available only at private vaccination centers.

Many including health experts had criticized the move and said that making vaccines available only for paying recipients through private vaccination centers will make people hesitant to take the vaccine.

Ahead of the precautionary dose rollout on April 10, vaccine makers, Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech reduced the price of their vaccines to Rs 225 per shot for private hospitals.

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The government had also put a cap of Rs 150 per dose as service charge over and above the cost of the vaccine at private vaccination centres.

Unvaccinated parents a risk for children

Medical Director of Lok Nayak Hospital, Dr Suresh Kumar has warned that if the parents do not take the vaccine, then their children are at risk.

Dr Kumar said that the group below 12 years is at higher risk since they have not been vaccinated yet while adding that we need to be more alert and aware.

"A total of seven COVID-19 patients are admitted in LNJP at present, out of which five are adults and two are children. One child is seven-year-old and another is four-month-old. The four-month-old baby is on oxygen support, he is a bit sick. The father of this child has also been tested positive and is admitted here. If the parents have not taken the vaccine, it can cause infection to the children" he said.

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Delhi's growing COVID cases

The Delhi government's decision to make the booster dose free for all adults comes at a time when the national capital is witnessing another surge in new COVID-19 cases.

Delhi reported 965 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, with active cases nearing 3,000.

As many as 635 COVID recoveries and one death from the virus were also witnessed in the last 24 hours.

The COVID positivity rate in Delhi was recorded to be 4.71 per cent, while the active cases stood at 2,970.

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Amid the rise in new COVID-19 infections, the Delhi government had on Wednesday made the wearing of masks mandatory at public places, said Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal. It also imposed Rs 500 penalty for defying the norm.

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