Government opens up COVID-19 vaccination for all above 18 years of age from May 1

Everyone above the age of 18 years will now be administered COVID-19 vaccine from 1st of May. Centre yesterday announced a liberalised and accelerated phase three strategy of Covid-19 vaccination. A decision in this regard was taken during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In this phase, the vaccination will continue as before in government of India vaccination centres free of cost to the eligible population including Health Care Workers, Front Line Workers and all people above 45 years of age.

During this phase vaccine manufacturers will supply 50 percent of their monthly released doses to Central government and they will be free to supply the remaining 50 percent doses to States as well as in the open market.

The manufacturers will transparently make an advance declaration of the price of the Vaccine that will be available to State Governments and in open market. Private Hospitals will have to procure their supplies of Covid-19 vaccine exclusively from the 50 percent supply earmarked for other than Government of India channel.

Gujarat government has welcomed the decision of the center to vaccinate youth above 18-year. Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this decision, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has said that vaccines are an infallible weapon against novel coronavirus.