COVID-19 vaccine to be provided at no cost, says Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

Union Minister of Health Hard Vardhan on Saturday he announced that the COVID-19 the vaccine would be provided free of charge throughout the country.

“Not only in Delhi, it will be free throughout the country,” said the minister in response to a query raised by the media.

In the first phase of vaccination, a free vaccine across the country will be provided to the highest priority beneficiaries including one crore from healthcare and 2 crore from frontline workers, the minister said.

He also added that the details of how more 27 million priority beneficiaries will be vaccinated until July.

The minister today reviewed the proof of vaccine administration at GTB hospital in Delhi today.

He said the guidelines for this nationwide trial run have been updated based on feedback from detailed pilot testing conducted in four states.

He also urged people not to believe rumors against the vaccine.

A vaccine trial is underway at Aundh hospital. Photo: Mahendra Kolhe / MMCL

Vaccine vacillation was a problem even when we started the polio immunization campaign, but we must remember its success, said Harsh Vardhan, adding: “I call on people not to be fooled by rumors about the Safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine. Do not compromise any protocol before approving a vaccine. ”

Nurse checking injection before administering a vaccine in Pune hospital. Photo: Mahendra Kolhe / MMCL

On Friday, an expert panel from India’s Central Medicines Authority recommended granting permission for the restricted emergency use of Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield vaccine, which is being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, paving the way for the launch of the first injection of COVID-19 in the country in the coming days.