January 10, 2022: Precautionary third dose of vaccines will be given to health and frontline workers and immuno-compromised senior citizens starting today as Covid numbers spike in the country, driven by Omicron.

According to the health ministry, there is no need to register for the precautionary vaccine doses. Those eligible can directly take an appointment or walk into any vaccination centre. There is no decision yet on booster doses for all adults.

Besides health and frontline workers, those above the age of 60 years who have co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension and other chronic ailments also have the option of getting the "Precaution Dose" on the advice of their doctor.

Those eligible for booster shots will, however, get them only 9 months after receiving the second dose of the Covid vaccine.

The third dose will be the same vaccine the people have received for their first and second doses. There will be no mix and match, the Centre has said.

The "precautionary dose" was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month amid continued demands for booster doses in view of the Omicron threat.