On May 12, the Union government eased the requirements for the Covid vaccination precaution dose, allowing persons travelling abroad to acquire the vaccine before the nine-month waiting period mandated by the destination country.
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya made an official declaration on Twitter.
“Indian citizens & students travelling overseas can now take the precaution dose as required by the guidelines of the destination country. This new facility will be available soon on the Cowin portal,” he wrote on Twitter.
On May 5, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) suggested that those who need to go overseas get the prophylactic Covid vaccination necessary by the destination country before the nine-month waiting period begins.
From January 10 this year, India began giving Covid vaccines to healthcare and frontline workers, as well as those aged 60 and up with comorbidities.
In March, the comorbidity provision was removed, making all adults over the age of 60 eligible for the Covid vaccine’s prophylactic dosage.
On April 10, India began delivering COVID-19 vaccine prophylactic doses to all adults over the age of 18 at private vaccination centres.