The Association of Healthcare Providers or AHPI has requested the centre to consider the eligible population to get a booster dose voluntarily. The AHPI director-general Girdhar Gyani said they had urged the government to use the surplus vaccine for booster doses.

“APHI has taken the matter to the private sector, with the honourable minister and asked the administration to take it and utilise it as suitable,” Gyani said. The APHI has suggested that booster doses be considered considering the duration of protection offered by vaccines.

The WHO chief said more people are taking booster shots against those receiving primary doses. The officials say that their priority is to vaccinate all adults this year, even as they are examining the issue of booster doses.