No prescription required for ‘precaution’ dose: Centre clears air about those above 60 with comorbidities

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan categorically underlined that the government has not issued any directions on the requirement of the doctor`s certificate to establish comorbidity at the vaccination centre.

New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry has said that no doctor’s certificate or prescription would be required for persons aged 60 and above with comorbidities for getting a ‘precaution dose’. Such persons are expected to obtain the advice of their doctors before deciding to avail of the precaution dose, said the Health Ministry.

During a workshop with states and union territories to review the rollout of vaccination for the age group 15-18 and precautionary third dose for vulnerable categories, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan emphasised that nine months or 39 weeks should elapse since the administration of the second dose to make the beneficiary eligible for the precaution dose.

Bhushan categorically underlined that the government has not issued any directions on the requirement of the doctor`s certificate to establish comorbidity at the vaccination centre. 

He said that the doctor’s prescription and certificates are not mandated to be produced at the centre for administration of the precaution dose.  The CoWIN will send reminder messages to all those eligible for the precaution dose and the dose will be reflected in the digital vaccination certificates, he added.

The states and UTs have been exhorted to undertake proper planning in advance for the distribution of Covaxin to identified session sites for the 15-18 age group. To avoid the mixing-up of vaccines during administration, the ministry has advised states to manage separate arrangements including separate session sites and queues in case adult vaccination is going at the same place.

The states and UTs have also been advised to share their requirement of vaccine doses through district-wise estimation of beneficiaries using the CoWIN portal.