The third shot of Covid-19 vaccines that will be rolled out for certain categories of citizens from January 10 will be of the same dose as the first two, a Union government official said on Wednesday.

People above the age of 60 with certain illnesses and those working in high-risk healthcare and front-line jobs will be allowed to take what the government has classified as precaution doses, as long as their second shots were taken more than nine months ago.

“It will be a homologous third or precautionary dose. Those who have received Covaxin will receive Covaxin and those who have earlier received primary two doses of Covishield will receive Covishield,” said VK Paul, member (health), Niti Aayog, during the health ministry’s weekly media briefing on Covid-19.

Paul said that as and when the government gets more information and data on other vaccines, especially on mixing of doses, the policy could be reviewed.

“We will take a call later as more data will gradually emerge on the so-called heterologous approach. For now, however, it will be the same third vaccine dose,” added Paul.

Experts backed the decision to wait for scientific doses on mixing vaccines. “In the absence of any data, no decision can be said to be inappropriate,” said Gagandeep Kang, vaccine expert, and senior faculty, Christian Medical College, Vellore.

“That is actually the right approach; policies can be modified as data evolve,” she added.

Paul said arrangements have been made to ensure smooth implementation of the third dose administration plan.

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