TS urges MOHFW to allow free booster doses for 18+ at govt hospitals

Hyderabad: The Telangana State government on Wednesday urged Union Ministry of Health, Medical and Family Welfare (MOHFW) to allow Government hospitals to administer free precautionary/booster doses to all the eligible individuals between 18 years and 59 years of age group.

The State Health Minister, T Harish Rao on Wednesday has written a letter to Union Health Minister, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, urging him to procure Covid booster vaccines for beneficiaries above 18 years so that they can be administered for free of cost at Government Covid Vaccination Centres in Telangana and across the Country.

The Union Ministry of Health had announced that the third dose of the Covid vaccine program, which is being called as the precautionary dose, can be taken by all the adults (18 years to 59 years) only at private hospitals. In fact, the booster dose administration for this age group at private hospitals has already started on Sunday, April 10.

“New Covid variants are fast emerging and it is better to get a precautionary dose of Covid vaccine. There is a need to provide free booster or precautionary doses to the age group of 18 years and 59 years. I request the Union Minister for Health to allow Government hospitals also to start administering the booster doses,” Harish Rao in the letter said.