Booster dose gap cut to 3 months for travelling abroad

NEW DELHI: Those travelling abroad for jobs, education and business purposes can take the precaution dose of COVID19 vaccine anytime after three months from the second dose as required by the destination country, the Centre said on Friday, a day after it relaxed the stipulated nine-month waiting period for international travel.

In a letter to states and union territories, the Centre said necessary provisions have been made on the CO-WIN portal to enable updation of the precaution dose so administered and citizens will not be required to upload documents such as visa.

The Health Ministry received several requests for the early administration of precaution dose to those who need to undertake international travel for educational purpose, employment opportunities, participation in sports tournaments, attending bilateral and multilateral meetings as part of India’s official delegation, and business commitments, Additional Secretary in the ministry Manohar Agnani said.

In this context, to facilitate international travel for such genuine reasons, the necessary provision of early administration of precaution dose for these travellers has been done on CO-WIN portal under National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, Agnani said in guidelines shared by him.

Based on the recommendations of experts, the com

The Centre said necessary provisions have been made on the CO-WIN portal to enable updation of precaution dose so administered and citizens will not be required to upload documents such as visa

petent authority has approved early administration of precaution dose as required by the destination country for these overseas travellers, subject to a minimum period of 90 days between the second dose and the precaution dose.

“The necessary provisions for the same have been made on CO-WIN,” Agnani stated.