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Centralised free COVID vaccination policy for all adults begins; pre-registration on Co-Win not mandatory

As PM Modi announced on June 7, a new phase of Covid-19 vaccination began from today (June 21) where Centre will provide free vaccines to all above the age of 18 years.

Centralised free COVID vaccination policy for all adults begins; pre-registration on Co-Win not mandatory-dnm
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New Delhi, First Published Jun 21, 2021, 10:20 AM IST

The new policy of India's inoculation strategy in which the Central Government will provide free vaccines against Covid-19 to adults across states began today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement in a televised address to the nation and said the central government would take over the nationwide vaccination drive, and the Centre would procure 75% of vaccines and give them to states for free distribution to all citizens above the age of 18.

The Centre will also handle the 25% vaccination that was with states till now under the liberalised plan announced earlier.

Private sector hospitals can continue to procure the remaining 25 percent and inoculate those willing to pay for their jabs, but will be allowed to charge Rs 150 per dose as service charge over fixed rates. There have been reports that several private hospitals were charging high prices in the absence of a benchmark.

Vaccine doses provided free of cost by the Centre will be allocated to states/UTs based on criteria such as population, disease burden and the progress of vaccination.

The Centre has also capped the prices for the administration of three approved Covid-19 vaccines in private hospitals. The maximum price that can be charged per dose by private centres is Rs 780 for Covishield, Rs 1,410 for Covaxin and Rs 1,145 for Sputnik V.

The Supreme Court had also slammed the Centre for the 'liberalised' vaccination policy for the 18-45 age group, calling it 'arbitrary and irrational'. The bench, headed by Justice DY Chandrachud, had asked the Centre about the Rs 35,000 crore earmarked for procuring vaccines in the Union Budget.

Meanwhile, from today, pre-registration on Cowin.gov.in will not be mandatory as all government and private vaccination centres would provide onsite registration facility.

As per the union health ministry, as many as 27,66,93,572 doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered across the country so far, including 38,10,554 on Sunday.

As many as 5,42,21,110 citizens in the 18-44 age group and 14,42,38,142 0ver the age of 45 have received their first dose.

NOTE: Asianet News humbly requests everyone to wear masks, sanitize, maintain social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as eligible. Together we can and will break the chain #ANCares #IndiaFightsCorona  

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