Free vaccines for the 60-plus, comorbid cases in govt hospitals from Mar 1

The vaccine will be given for free in over 10,000 government hospitals and will come for a price which is yet to be decided in more than 20,000 private centres

India will start the next stage of vaccinating those above 60 years of age and those above 45 with comorbidities, such as diabetes and heart ailments, from March 1, the government announced in a Cabinet briefing on Wednesday.

The vaccines will be given for free in over 10,000 government hospitals and will come for a price, which is yet to be decided, in more than 20,000 private centres. Around 270 million people are expected to be covered in the third phase of the vaccination drive. Of these, 100 million will be those aged above 60.

The government is likely to put a