New Delhi (NVI): The second phase of the coronavirus vaccination drive will begin from March 1 with shots being administered to people over 60 years of age, as well as those above 45 with comorbidities, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar today said.
These vaccinations will be given at 10,000 government and 20,000 private centres around the country.
Moreover, covid-19 vaccination will be free of cost at government-run centres, he added.
Javadekar said those who want to get vaccinated from private hospitals will have to pay.
“The amount they would need to pay will be decided by the health ministry within 3-4 days as they are in discussion with manufacturers and hospitals,” he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Union health ministry asked Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Chhattisgarh to expedite the vaccination of healthcare and frontline workers so as to confer immunity in the shortest possible time-frame in the wake of a rising trend of COVID-19 cases and positively rate in some districts.
So far, a total of 1,19,07,392 vaccine doses have been administered. The beneficiaries include 64,71,047 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken the first dose, 13,21,635 health care workers who have taken the second dose, and 41,14,710 frontline workers (FLWs) who have taken the first dose.
-CHK
