As Bharat Biotech aims to launch its vaccine, Covaxin, in February, which could be the first vaccine available in India, the Center is finalizing the procedure for administering the vaccine, including identifying the priority groups to target. they will administer the vaccine first and at no cost. .
The group of experts deliberating on these details has prepared a plan. Earlier, the Union’s health minister, Harsh Vardhan, had said that states had been asked to identify a group of priority beneficiaries. A total of 30 million million priority beneficiaries will receive the vaccine dose in the initial phase.
So far four categories have been identified in general terms
1.A crore of health professionals: In addition to doctors, nurses, and ASHA workers, this group also includes MBBS students.
2. Two million frontline workers: This group is made up of workers from municipal corporations, police personnel and personnel from the armed forces.
3.Twenty-six crore of people over 50: Since older people are at higher risk of contracting Covid-19, people over the age of 50 will also be treated as a priority group.
Four.Special category persons of a crore: This group will include those under 50 but with comorbidities.
The administration of vaccines to these people will be free.
The Center has already asked the states to establish a working group to expedite the vaccination campaign for which the eVIN (Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network) platform exists.
Recipients will be tracked through Aadhaar, but it will not be required. In case a person does not have an Aadhaar card, any government photo identity will be used.
(With PTI inputs)
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