With the rise in Covid cases across the country, the State Government like other states today started administering the third shot or the precautionary dose to its frontline workers and senior citizens with comorbidities. The third dose vaccination process started in Ranchi and other districts too.
The State Health department in this connection has issued necessary directives to all districts. As per the guidelines issued by Additional Chief Secretary, (Health) Arun Kumar Singh to all district administrations it has been directed that only those health and frontline workers or senior citizens above age of 60 years would be considered for the precautionary dose who have completed 39 weeks or nine months from their date of second dose.
The Additional Chief Secretary has also directed that elderly population with comorbidities will be considered for the third dose, but it's advisable that these people consult a doctor before taking the third dose of vaccines.
As per the state health department the state has around 6.5 lakh people who are above 60 years of age and have comorbid conditions. “We will ensure that precautionary doses are administered to all healthcare and frontline workers, besides elderly with comorbidities, beneficiaries would be given the same vaccine that they had taken as the first and the second dose,” Singh said.
The Ranchi district administration has made elaborate arrangements for vaccination. As per the district administration guidelines it has been directed that senior citizens do not have to stand in long lines at the vaccination centres.
At the vaccination centers, 60+ comorbid people will be vaccinated on priority basis. Precaution doses can be taken at 18 vaccination centers in Ranchi district. In these centres, 10% vaccine reserve will be kept for the preparation dose. It has been told that there is no need to re-register to take the precautionary dose.
On giving the mobile number used while taking the second dose, the technician will verify the details and give the vaccine. Precaution dose can be taken only after nine months of taking the second dose of corona vaccine. During this, if a person has been corona infected, then a gap of three months is necessary if the report comes negative. The district administration has urged such people to consult their doctor once before taking the precaution dosage.
Meanwhile, the elderly people who received the booster dose were happy with the vaccination process. Lalbabu Prasad who received the booster dose vaccination at IMA hall said, “We are happy that the government has decided to give booster dose to elderly people. With the rise in cases we were worried about our health, but the booster dose will help in improving immunity.”
Echoing the views of Lalbabu Prasad, Sukumar Sen, another elderly person, said,” The process of giving booster dose is simple as we have to provide only our registered mobile number used while taking the second dose. The technician after verifying the number gave us the booster dose.”