People aged 45 and up will be vaccinated beginning April 1, the government announced today, stepping up the statewide immunization drive. Covid prosecutions have increased in a number of jurisdictions. “I appeal to every citizen 45 and older to register for vaccination,” Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, announcing the expansion of the drive, which began in January.
At the moment, only individuals over the age of 60 and those over the age of 45 with other ailments are eligible for vaccination.
“This decision was made by cabinet based on the advice of the coronavirus Task Force and experts,” Mr. Javadekar said.
According to the ministry, 4.85 crore people have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine, with an additional 80 lakh receiving the second dose.
Mr. Javadekar said that physicians will prescribe the right time for the second dose in response to the center’s letter to states yesterday to widen the gap between two doses of Serum Institute of India’s Covishield – designed by Oxford-AstraZeneca
.
“The second dose must be given between four and eight weeks after the first. Doctors will determine when it is best to administer the second dose,” the Union Minister stated.
Coronavirus cases in India have increased in recent weeks, with the daily increase remaining above 30,000 since March 18. The region has 795 cases of the Covid virus variants from the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil.
Despite a 13% reduction in new coronavirus infections to 40,715 today, the active caseload increased for the 13th day in a row, according to the Union health ministry.
Vaccinations began with healthcare workers on January 16, and frontline workers were considered eligible on February 2.
Mr. Javadekar was questioned about Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s request to the Centre to broaden the scope of vaccinations to include younger persons, given the state’s spike in cases of the UK variant.
The Union Minister stated that he was “not a health specialist and was unaware of the complexities of the UK variant.”
Covid-19 is an abbreviation for Covid-19 Vaccination: At the moment, only individuals over the age of 60 and those over the age of 45 with other ailments are eligible for vaccination.
