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Any individual above 12 years of age can visit the nearest vaccination centre, perform the on-site registration and receive the vaccine dose
If you have got your COVID vaccine first dose, here's what you need to know about the second dose. The government prescribes a specific timeline after which you should get your COVID vaccine second dose for better efficacy and optimal protection against the deadly virus. Having said that, the timeframe for the second shot is different for all three vaccines, Covishield, Covaxin, and Sputnik. In case, you are wondering what's that time frame and how to book COVID vaccine second dose online, we are here to help you out:
Online registration is not mandatory for COVID-19 vaccination anymore. Anyone above 12 years can visit the nearest vaccination centre, perform the on-site registration and receive the vaccine during the same visit. CoWIN platform is now just one of the many modes of registration for vaccinations apart from walk-ins.
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As per the latest government notification, the Covaxin 2nd dose gap should be at least four weeks, i.e. 28 days. Those administered with this vaccine, developed by Bharat Biotech, can take the second dose between four to six weeks, i.e. 28 days to 42 days, after the first dose.
Individuals who have received the first dose and got positive should defer their second dose by three months after clinical recovery from COVID-19.
The Covishield 2nd dose gap has been revised twice since the beginning of the vaccination drive in January. First, the two doses were meant to be administered four to six weeks apart. Later, the Centre revised it to four to eight weeks. Now the gap has been increased to 12 to 16 weeks, which is roughly three months after the first dose. The protection from the coronavirus is said to be optimum during this period. Additionally, Cowin will soon have the provision of scheduling the second dose of Covishield earlier than 12 weeks for foreign-bound beneficiaries.
As for the Sputnik V second dose, it should be taken after 21 days / 3 weeks gap from the first dose.
Read more: COVID vaccination slot booking: How to check COVID vaccine slot availability online
While it's not mandatory to book a COVID-19 vaccination slot online, we would still advise you to go for it as there are reports of vaccine shortages. Booking COVID vaccine second dose online will confirm your appointment so that you don't walk out of the centre without a jab. The COVID vaccine second dose online can be booked using the same platforms as the first dose such as the Cowin portal, Aarogya Setu app, and Umang app.
If you can't find vaccine slots, subscribe to these COVID vaccination slots finder tools. The tools send a notification every time the slot opens at the vaccination centre near you.
Read more: COVID vaccine certificate download: How to download COVID vaccination certificate
Individuals can take the second dose of COVID vaccine anywhere around the country. It doesn't necessarily have to be the same place where you got the first dose of Covishield and Covaxin.
Much like the first dose, the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, whether it's Covishield or Covaxin, will remain free at government hospitals in states that have announced free vaccination for all. In the private facility; however, the second dose of Covishield and Covaxin will be paid. You will be able to take the second dose of vaccination for free at a government hospital, even if you have paid for the first dose.
The COVID vaccine first dose helps your body create an immune response, whereas the second dose is said to be a booster that strengthens your immunity against the virus.
There should be a minimum of nine months gap between the second COVID vaccine dose and booster shot. That is to say, if you have taken the second jab in September last year, you are now eligible for the third aka COVID vaccine booster shot. The third dose of vaccine against the novel coronavirus is eligible for all adults (18+) across the nation.