COVID-19 vaccine for all above age of 18 years from May 1

NEW DELHI: The government today announced that COVID-19 vaccinations will be opened to all above 18 years of age from May 1.

The decision was taken after prime minister Narendra Modi held a series of meetings over India's response to record daily surges in Covid-19 cases.

It was also announced that the states now can buy vaccines directly from makers in the "liberalised and accelerated Phase 3 strategy of COVID-19 vaccination.

Under the third phase of the vaccination drive commencing next month, the vaccine manufacturers would supply 50 per cent of their monthly Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) released doses to the central government and would be free to supply the remaining 50 per cent doses to state governments and in the open market.

Manufacturers would have to make an advance declaration of the price for 50 per cent supply that would be available to the state governments and in the open market before May 1.

Based on this price, state governments, private hospitals, industrial establishments, etc would be able to procure vaccine doses from the manufacturers.

Private Hospitals would have to procure their supplies of COVID-19 vaccine exclusively from the 50 per cent supply earmarked for entities other than those coming through the central government channel.

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The private Vaccination providers would need to transparently declare their self-set vaccination price and the eligibility through this channel would be opened up to all adults, that is everyone above the age of 18.

Vaccination will however continue as before in the government of India vaccination centres free of cost to the eligible population, healthcare and frontline workers and all people above 45 years of age.