India To Start Vaccinating Elderly For Covid-19 From March 1

All above 60 years of age, 45-plus with other illnesses to get Covid-19 vaccine from March 1.

24 Feb 2021, 04:35 PM IST

A healthcare worker, right, administers a dose of Bharat Biotech Ltd. Covaxin vaccine for coronavirus at Sanjeevan Hospital in Daryaganj, New Delhi. (Photographer. T. Narayan/Bloomberg)

Everyone above 60 years of age and those over 45 years and having other illnesses will be able to get Covid-19 vaccine from March 1 for free at government facilities and for a charge at many private hospitals, the government said on Wednesday.

Announcing the next phase of India's vaccination drive, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said a proposal to this effect was approved at a meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"While the vaccine will be given for free at government centres, it will be available for a charge, to be decided later, at many private hospitals," the minister said at a post-Cabinet media briefing here.