Explained: Centre’s guidelines for ‘precautionary’ Covid shots for priority groups

The additional shots will be administered to three priority groups—healthcare workers, frontline workers and those above 60 years who have co-morbidities.

The guidelines state that when beneficiaries become eligible for the additional dose, Co-WIN will send out text messages informing them. (File photo)

The Centre on Monday issued guidelines for the “precautionary” doses against Covid-19 that will be administered to three priority groups—healthcare workers, frontline workers and those above 60 years who have co-morbidities.

The drive will be rolled out starting from January 10 next year.

Who will be eligible for the “precautionary” doses?

The health ministry has said that healthcare workers, frontline workers and citizens above 60 years with comorbidities will be eligible for the “precautionary” doses.

More importantly, the guidelines state that beneficiaries can take the additional jab only nine months—that is 39 weeks—between the second dose was administered to them.

Will the government inform beneficiaries if they are eligible?

The guidelines state that when beneficiaries become eligible for the additional dose, Co-WIN will send out text messages informing them that their third shot is now due.

Do beneficiaries have to carry any co-morbidity certificate to the vaccination centre ?

Since the “precautionary” doses will be administered on doctors’ advice, beneficiaries need to carry the co-morbidity certificates to the vaccination centres. However, the beneficiary does not need to upload any doctor’s recommendation on the Co-Win platform before booking vaccination slots.

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Will walk-in facilities be available?

Yes. Beneficiaries can either book their slots online or walk into a vaccination centre to get jabbed. So, it is not mandatory to book slots on Co-Win. However, beneficiaries have to check beforehand the list of vaccination centres offering walk-in facilities.

Will the government issue another vaccination certificate?

The guidelines state that after beneficiaries take the third dose, the details will be suitably reflected in their vaccination certificates.

Kaunain Sheriff M

As City Editor ( Delhi) at the Indian Express, Kaunain Sheriff leads city reporting with a sharp focus on accountability journalism, data-driven stories, and ground-level impact. As the National Health Editor he leads the newsroom’s in-depth coverage of pressing health issues. He is the author of Johnson & Johnson Files: The Indian Secrets of a Global Giant, a definitive investigation into the accountability of one of the world’s most powerful pharmaceutical corporations. Areas of Expertise Investigative Reporting: Has deep expertise in investigative reporting spanning public health, regulatory affairs, drug safety, and the criminal justice system. His work sits at the intersection of governance, law, and accountability, with a particular focus on how regulatory failures, institutional lapses, and policy decisions affect citizens’ rights and safety. Data Journalism: Has extensively on big data–driven investigations, including analyses of flagship government schemes and large datasets on criminal trials, uncovering systemic gaps. Global Collaborations Kaunain is a key contributor to major international journalistic projects: The Implant Files: Collaborated with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) to expose global malpractices in the medical device industry. Chinese Big-Data Investigation: Uncovered how a foreign data firm monitored thousands of prominent Indian institutions and individuals in real-time. Awards & Recognition His commitment to "Journalism of Courage" has been recognized with the industry's highest honors: Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism SOPA Award (Society of Publishers in Asia) Red Ink Award (Mumbai Press Club) Indian Express Excellence Awards (Triple recipient for investigations into the NSA abuse in UP, Vyapam scam, and the anti-Sikh riots). Education: Studied Mechanical Engineering at Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Bangalore, before moving to Delhi to pursue his passion for journalism. His engineering training informs his analytical approach, enabling him to decode technical, legal, and data-heavy systems with precision. Social media LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kaunain-sheriff-3a00ab99 X ( fromerly Twitter): @kaunain_s ... Read More