Covid: Everyone above 18 eligible to get vaccine from May 1, says govt

Further, vaccine manufacturers have been empowered to release up to 50 per cent of their supply to state governments and in the open market at a pre-declared price

Everyone above 18 years of age will be eligible to get vaccinated against coronavirus from May 1, the central government said on Monday as it liberalised the vaccination drive to allow states, private hospitals and industrial establishments to procure the doses directly from manufacturers.

Under the third phase of the vaccination drive commencing next month, the vaccine manufacturers would supply 50 per cent of their monthly Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) released doses to the central government and would be free to supply the remaining 50 per cent doses to state governments and in the open market.

Manufacturers would have to make an advance declaration of the price for 50 per cent supply that would be available to the state governments and in the open market before May 1, 2021, an official statement said.

Based on this price, state governments, private hospitals, industrial establishments, etc would be able to procure vaccine doses from the manufacturers.

Private Hospitals would have to procure their supplies of Covid-19 vaccine exclusively from the 50 per cent supply earmarked for entities other than those coming through the central government channel.

The private Vaccination providers would need to transparently declare their self-set vaccination price and the eligibility through this channel would be opened up to all adults, that is everyone above the age of 18, the statement added.

Vaccination will continue as before in the government of India vaccination centres free of cost to the eligible population -- healthcare and frontline workers and all people above 45 years of age.

The Union Health Ministry said the important decision to allow vaccination to everyone above the age of 18 from May 1 was taken in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Prime Minister said that the government has been working hard for over a year to ensure that maximum numbers of Indians are able to get the vaccine in the shortest possible of time. He added that India is vaccinating people at world record pace and we will continue this with even greater momentum," it added.

Second dose of all existing priority groups incudling the frontline, health workers and population above 45 years, wherever it has become due, would be given priority.

India reported a massive spike in coronavirus cases (273,810) on Monday, the highest single-day spike so far since the pandemic began last year. India also reported the highest-ever single-day spike in Covid-related deaths with 1,625 fatalities. The death toll from the deadly infection currently stands at 178,793.

Boost to inoculation drive

* Vaccine manufacturers can supply 50 per cent of their monthly Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) released doses to union government and would be free to supply the remaining 50 per cent doses to state governments and in the open market.

* Manufacturers would transparently make an advance declaration of the price for 50 per cent supply that would be available to state governments and in open market, before May 1.

* Based on this price, state governments, private hospitals, industrial establishments etc would be able to procure vaccine doses from the manufacturers.

* Private Hospitals would have to procure their supplies of Covid-19 vaccine exclusively from the 50 per cent supply earmarked for other than union government channel.

* Private Vaccination providers shall transparently declare their self-set vaccination price. The eligibility through this channel would be opened up to all adults, i.e. everyone above the age of 18.

* The division of vaccine supply 50 per cent to union government and 50 per cent to others would be applicable uniformly across for all vaccines manufactured in the country.

* However union government will allow the imported fully ready to use vaccines to be entirely utilised in the other than Centre channel.

* All vaccination would be part of the National Vaccination Programme, and mandated to follow all protocol such as being captured on CoWIN platform, linked to AEFI reporting and all other prescribed norms. 

* Stocks and price per vaccination applicable in all vaccination centres will also have to be reported real-time.

With PTI inputs