Covid vaccination for senior citizens, people with comorbidities from March

New Delhi: In a major decision, the Centre on Wednesday decided to launch Phase 3 of Covid-19 vaccination from March 1 under which everyone above 60 years of age and those over 45 years with comorbidities will get the vaccine for free only at government vaccination centres while those opting to get the jab at any private facility will have to pay for the same.

While addressing a press conference, Information and Broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar said: "The Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took the decision on the next phase of the vaccination and it will start on March 1."

He added: "Those who want to get the vaccination from private hospitals will have to pay, but the amount will be decided by the Health ministry within the next three-four days as they are in discussions with manufacturers as well as hospitals."

The third phase of the world's largest vaccination drive will start from Monday in which anybody above 60 years, that may not be less than 10 crore people in the country, and 45 years plus with comorbidities will be given vaccines in 10,000 government medical facilities and also over 20,000 private hospitals.

"Whoever goes to the government centre will be administered vaccine free of cost and it will be paid by the government. The Centre will purchase the necessary doses and will send them to all the states," Javadekar said.

In reply to a question about the choice of vaccine, Javadekar said: "India is proud to have two vaccines that are both effective with proven efficacy. India has vaccinated over 1.21 crore beneficiaries, including 14 lakh beneficiaries who have received a second dose of the shot."

In the first phase, the vaccination was open for healthcare workers and under the second phase frontline workers such as government officials, police officials, etc have been inoculated with the vaccine and the whole expenditure was borne by the government.

Asked whether ministers and the Prime Minister, who would be now in the category of those who can take the vaccination, will get inoculated, Javadekar said those who want to take the vaccination will take it at the place of their choice from March 1.

However, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who also briefed the media on the Cabinet decisions, said most of the ministers are of the thinking that they will pay to get vaccinated.

"In many places, Prime Ministers and ministers are getting it done, here we thought that first we will get our health sector fighters vaccinated," Prasad said.