Centre to initiate free vaccination to those above 18 years of age

The central government is set to initiate its ambitious programme to facilitate free COVID 19 vaccine to every citizens above 18 years of age from Monday. This programme is expected to support in expanding the daily vaccination numbers.

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in his address to nation, earlier this month asserted that the centre will take over the existing COVID 19 vaccination drive, which was previously being carried out by the states partly.

The Centre’s new policy followed when the Supreme Court criticized the ongoing COVID 19 vaccination drive for 18-44 years age group. The court claimed the vaccination drive as ‘arbitrary and irrational’.

The major objective of the government behind this initiative is to vaccinate every adults in the country against the COVID 19 by the end of the ongoing year.

Things to know about free COVID 19 vaccination :

a. Every citizen of the country who are above 18 years of age are eligible to avail free vaccination at any government facility.

b. The centre will purchase 75 per cent of the vaccine produced from the vaccine manufacturers and provide it to the state governments free of cost. The state governments do not have to incur any expenses on the vaccination.

c. All the vaccination centres, whether government or private should facilitate online registration facilities. However, registration through Co-win app is not mandatory.

d. To help the citizens to book slots for their vaccination, the states can avail the facilities of Common Service Centres and Call Centres.

e. The cost of COVID 19 vaccines doses in the private hospitals will be announced by the particular vaccine manufacturers. If any changes in the prices takes place, it will be notified ahead of the time.