Covid-19 vaccination gathers pace in India: After frontline & health workers, these people will get jab now

As Coronavirus infections have been rising again, though in some parts of the country, the centre has stepped up its fight against the Covid-19.

The government on Wednesday said that it will start Covid-19 vaccination for people aged above 60 and those above 45 years with comorbidities.

In a press briefing, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, said, “From March 1, people above 60 years of age and those above 45 years of age with comorbidities will be vaccinated at 10,000 government and over 20,000 private vaccination centres.”

The vaccine will be given free of cost at government centres, he added.

But those who want to go to private hospitals for vaccination will need to pay, he said. The government is in discussion with vaccine manufacturers and private hospitals regarding the pricing. “The amount they would need to pay will be decided by the health ministry within three-four days as they are in discussion with manufacturers & hospitals,” he added.

On January 16, India started its vaccination drive against Coronavirus infections. In the first phase, frontline and healthcare workers are getting the Covid-19 vaccine. In the past month, more than 1.2 crore beneficiaries have received the Covid-19 vaccine so far.

As on February 24, as many as 1,21,65,598 beneficiaries have received Covid-19 vaccine through 2,54,356 sessions. Out of which 64,98,300 healthcare workers have received the first dose and 13,98,400 HCWs received the second dose, while 42,68,898 frontline workers get injected with the first dose, according to data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The Health Ministry has started the second dose of vaccination on February 13, for those beneficiaries who have completed 28 days after receipt of the first dose. Vaccination of the frontline workers started on 2nd Feb 2021.