All 18+ will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine from May 1

NEW DELHI: The Union Government on Monday announced that everyone above the age of 18 will be eligible to get a vaccine against COVID-19 from May 1. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Prime Minister Modi said that the government has been working hard for over a year to ensure that maximum numbers of Indians are able to get the vaccine in the shortest possible time. "India is vaccinating people at world record pace and we will continue this with even greater momentum."

The third phase of vaccination, which will start on May 1, aims at liberalized vaccine pricing and scaling up of vaccine coverage. Private Vaccination providers have to transparently declare their self-set vaccination price and the eligibility through this channel would be opened up to all adults everyone above the age of 18.

Vaccine manufacturers are empowered to release up to 50 per cent of their supply to state Governments and in the open market at a pre-declared price. On the other hand, states are empowered to procure additional vaccine doses directly from the manufacturers, as well as open up vaccination to any category of people above the age of 18 for the same.

Vaccination will be provided free of cost to the eligible population as defined earlier which include Health Care Workers (HCWs), Front Line Workers (FLWs) and all people above 45 years of age at Government of India (GoI) vaccination centres.

The division of vaccine supply 50 per cent to GoI and 50 per cent to other than its channel would be applicable uniformly across for all vaccines manufactured in the country.

Meanwhile, the Centre has empowered the States to procure additional doses of vaccines directly from the manufacturers. The Government of India, from its share, will allocate vaccines to States/UTs based on the criteria of extent of infection and performance (speed of administration). Wastage of vaccines will also be considered in the criteria and will affect the criteria negatively. Based on the above criteria, state-wise quota would be decided and communicated to the States adequately in advance. (IANS)

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