NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Narendra Modi
    Amit Shah
    Box Office Collection
    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
    OTT releases
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    NewsBytes
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout

    India
    Business
    World
    Politics
    Sports
    Technology
    Entertainment
    Auto
    Lifestyle
    Inspirational
    Career
    Bengaluru
    Delhi
    Mumbai

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
    Home / News / India News / Free COVID-19 vaccine shots for senior citizens from March 1
    Next Article
    Free COVID-19 vaccine shots for senior citizens from March 1

    Free COVID-19 vaccine shots for senior citizens from March 1

    By Sagar
    Feb 24, 2021
    04:57 pm

    What's the story

    The second phase of India's coronavirus vaccination drive will begin from March 1, under which vaccine shots will be administered to citizens aged above 60 years, as well as those above 45 but suffering from comorbidities.

    Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting - Prakash Javadekar - announced the news on Wednesday afternoon.

    Here are more details on this.

    Details

    27 crore people expected to be covered

    As part of the second phase, vaccine shots will be administered at 10,000 government-run centers and 20,000 private centers.

    The inoculation will be free of cost at the state-run facilities, while the charges for vaccination at the private centers will be confirmed in a few days, the Centre said.

    Around 27 crore people are expected to be covered under this phase.

    Quote

    Discussions are on with manufacturers and hospitals, says Javadekar

    "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 three-four days as they are in discussion with the manufacturers and hospitals," said Javadekar.

    Details

    Certain comorbidities will be given priority

    Dr. Suneeta Garg, an adviser to the Indian Council For Medical Research (ICMR), who is also on the Lancet Commission's COVID-19 India Taskforce, said that those suffering from comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases will be given priority over people with other diseases.

    The private sector is also expected to play a major role in the upcoming phase.

    First phase

    1.19 crore vaccinated across India so far

    In the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccination program, the central government had planned to inoculate around three crore healthcare professionals and frontline medical staffers.

    However, the latest data tells that only 1.19 crore people have received vaccine doses across India, of which fewer than 15 lakh have been administered the mandatory second shot of the vaccine.

    Vaccines

    Two vaccines in use, a third is being considered

    India has thus far approved two vaccines for emergency use - Covishield, which has been developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India, and Bharat Biotech-developed COVAXIN.

    A third vaccine - Russia's Sputnik V - has also applied for emergency use, a decision on which will be taken by an SEC (Subject Expert Committee) soon.

    Pandemic

    India currently has around 1.47 lakh active COVID-19 cases

    There are currently around 1.47 lakh active COVID-19 cases in India, with over 13,000 new infections reported on Tuesday.

    Overall, the country has witnessed more than 1.10 crore cases and over 1.5 lakh deaths due to the fatal virus.

    In recent days, at least five states including the worst-affected Maharashtra and Kerala, have seen a spike in cases amid growing fears over mutated strains.

    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Related News
    Latest
    India
    Coronavirus
    COVID-19 Vaccination

    Latest

    'Women in Pahalgam lacked heroic qualities': BJP MP's controversial remark Akhilesh Yadav
    Varun-Dinesh Vijan may reunite for mytho-horror drama: What to expect Anees Bazmee
    LIC has set Guinness World Record for selling insurance policies Life Insurance Corporation of India
    NVIDIA to roll-out a cheaper AI chip for China NVIDIA

    India

    Prepared to defeat misadventures to defend territorial integrity: Rajnath Singh Rajnath Singh
    PM speaks to Biden, says 'committed to rules-based international order' Narendra Modi
    Amid frosty ties, Trudeau dials PM Modi for COVID-19 vaccines Narendra Modi
    India, China agree to disengage along Pangong Lake: Rajnath Singh Rajnath Singh

    Coronavirus

    Arthritis drug tocilizumab effective in reducing COVID-19 deaths: UK study Technology
    Human skeleton found in Varanasi college used as quarantine center Uttar Pradesh
    Coronavirus: India's tally reaches 10.89 million with 12K+ new cases Kerala
    Irregularities in COVID-19 testing emerge in Bihar, CM promises action Bihar

    COVID-19 Vaccination

    COVID-19 vaccination drive: Beneficiaries begin to get second dose COVID-19 India
    PIL to include judicial staff in vaccine priority list: Details Supreme Court Of India
    India second-fastest to reach one crore COVID-19 vaccinations COVID-19
    Petitions demand prisoners out on bail or parole be vaccinated Delhi High Court
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2025