New Delhi: Everyone above 45 years of age will be able to get the Covid-19 vaccine from April 1, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar announced on Tuesday.
While announcing the government’s decision, Javadekar appealed to all eligible people to get themselves registered to get inoculated with the coronavirus vaccines. The Union Minister assured the nation that there is no shortage of COVID vaccine doses in the country.
“We have enough vaccine. All eligible people should get registered as it is a shield against COVID-19. We appeal all above 45+ should get vaccinated,” Javadekar said while addressing a press conference.Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan sent a letter to chief administrators of all states and Union Territories, stating that on the basis of available scientific evidence, the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) has been guiding all aspects of the vaccination drive
“From April 1, there will now be no need for a comorbidity certificate for people aged 45 years to 59 years,” he said.
The registration on Co-WIN would begin from April 1.
“You are requested to kindly direct the officials concerned to immediately undertake necessary measures for expansion of COVID-19 vaccination drive to include beneficiaries aged 45 and above.
“Special focus should be given on optimal utilisation of the capacity of COVID-19 vaccination centres while minimising the wastage of vaccines,” Bhushan said in the letter
India has approved Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech and Covishield from the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Serum Institute of India (SII).
The union health ministry said the country achieved a significant milestone in the fight against the pandemic. The cumulative number of COVID19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 5 crore on March 23.
The Union Cabinet’s decision to allow people above 45 years of age to get vaccinated comes days after Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi held a meeting with several chief ministers over the rising cases of coronavirus in the country.
India on Tuesday recorded 40,715 coronavirus cases, taking the total infection tally to 1,16,86,796. India’s total Active Caseload stands at 3.45 lakh (3,45,377) as of today. India’s cumulative recoveries stand at 1,11,81,253 today. The national recovery rate is 95.67 per cent. 199 corona patients lost their lives in the last 24 hours, taking the fatality count to 1,60,166.
Meanwhile, the union ministry of health and family welfare today said that Maharashtra, Punjab, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu reported a rise in daily new corona cases. The states account for 80.90 per cent of the new infections reported in the last 24 hours.
Maharashtra continues to report the highest daily new cases at 24,645 (60.53%). It is followed by Punjab with 2,299 while Gujarat reported 1,640 new cases.
