Starting on Sunday, the Indian federal government will enable all adults to pay for coronavirus booster doses at private vaccination centers.

Last year, the country was hit by a deadly second wave caused by the Delta variety, but it wasn’t until January of this year that booster doses were given to healthcare workers and individuals over the age of 60.

From Sunday, the whole adult population will be eligible to get a third booster shot, according to the country’s health ministry.

“All people above the age of 18 who have completed 9 months following the delivery of the second dosage will be eligible for the Precaution Dose,” according to the statement.

The booster dose has been dubbed a “precaution dose” by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to Adar Poonawala, chief executive of the Serum Institute of India, which manufactures the vaccine, the Covishield vaccine, as the AstraZeneca vaccine is branded in India, would cost Rs 600 (about £6).

According to the government, 96% of the population over the age of 15 has gotten at least one dose of the Covid vaccination, with 83% having been double-jabbed.

The government of India had said that the booster dosage should be from the same manufacturer as the citizens’ previous two doses.

According to health ministry statistics, a third wave caused by the Omicron type has also expanded across the country, but infections have now reached a plateau.

On Friday, India reported 1,109 new Covid cases, with the XE strain being recorded for the first time on Thursday in the financial capital of Mumbai.