Booster doses allowed for all adults from April 10 in private centres: Govt

In a major move, the government has allowed booster doses or what it calls precautionary doses of Covid vaccine for all adults from April 10, 2022.

The precautionary doses will be available at private vaccination centres.

There won't be any change in the existing vaccination programme for the first and second doses as well as the booster doses for healthcare workers, frontline workers and those above 60 years of age.


The booster dose of Covishield will cost Rs 600 plus taxes in the market, Serum Institute of India said. Hospitals will get it at a lower price.

The on-going free vaccination programme through government vaccination centres for first and second dose as well as Precaution Dose to Healthcare Workers, Frontline Workers and 60+ population would continue and would be accelerated.

About 96% of all 15+ population in the country have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose while about 83% of 15+ population has received both the doses.

The number of COVID cases in the country has seen a sharp decline with states now easing mandates that had been in place to check spread of the infection.

Most of the COVID curbs have now been lifted. Experts had called for giving booster doses to all adults as it would significantly enhance the antibodies to fight COVID.