On March 1, vaccination starts for senior citizens, 45+ with comorbidities

A labourer works at a brick kiln near Amritsar on Wednesday. PIC/PTI

Everyone aged above 60 and those over 45 with comorbidities 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. The Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took the decision on the next phase of the vaccination, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said.

"The second phase of vaccination drive will start from Monday in which anybody above 60 years, that may not be less than 10 crore people in the country, and 45-plus with comorbidities will be given vaccines in 10,000 government medical facilities and over 20,000 private hospitals," he said. "The government will purchase the necessary doses and will send them to all the states," he said.

Vaccines at private hospitals will be chargeable, but the amount will be decided by the health ministry within the next three-four days, he said. On question about the choice between Covishield and COVAXIN vaccines, Javadekar did not give a clear response. He said India is proud to have two vaccines which are both effective with proven efficacy. India recorded 13,742 new cases and and 104 deaths, showed government data updated at 8 am.

Delhi HC allows home quarantine for UK returnees
The Delhi High Court Wednesday directed that the family of four, sent to 7-day institutional quarantine after returning from the UK despite testing negative for COVID-19, be sent to home quarantine. Justice Prathiba M Singh issued the direction saying there was "no clarity" in the notifications by the Centre and the Delhi government.

They were "contradictory" regarding quarantine of passengers coming from the UK, Singh said. She directed the Delhi government to instruct the IGI airport to prominently display on its website the standard operating procedures (SOP) so that no confusion is caused to travellers.

1,10,30,176
Total number of cases in the country as of today

1,56,567
Total no. of deaths due to the virus in India

1,07,26,702
Patients recovered and discharged in India as of today

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