third Covid-19 vaccine dose for all adults will be taken based on the scientific need, said the central government on Thursday. "The scientific need is the first part that drives it, then other considerations – programmatic and epidemiological.
Just because anyone else is doing it, they have their own context, we have our own context and all this is under constant scientific scrutiny and decision-making," said Dr VK Paul, NITI Aayog member (health).
Responding to a question during the weekly press conference, Paul said that the additional need for vaccination and inclusion of population for vaccination is being examined constantly. "… we also look at developments in the world and keep analysing and all options of vaccination are under active consideration and as decisions are taken, it would be announced," he said.
In addition to this, Lav Agarwal, the joint secretary at the health ministry, said though there is variation in coverage of vaccination between different age groups, collectively the vaccination pace is still good in the country. "In October last year, an average 77.55 lakh doses were given every day.