Union minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday announced that people above 45 years of age can be vaccinated against coronavirus from April 1, requesting all eligible to immediately register and get vaccinated.
"We appeal that all above 45 should take the vaccine as early as possible that will provide them with a shield against Corona," Javadekar told.
On Monday, the Centre revised the time gap between the two-dose of Covishied vaccine from 4-8 weeks which was 4-6 earlier.
In today’s press meet, Javaedkar stressed, "As per the advice by scientists and world scientist bodies, 2nd dose can be administered between 4th & 8th week, particularly for COVISHIELD.”
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Nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive was initiated on January 16 with healthcare workers and private workers first getting the vaccine dose. The list includes health workers, both from government and private institutions, along with sanitation workers, other frontline workers, defence forces, police and other paramilitary forces. The next phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive started on 1 March, those who are over 60 years of age and people aged 45 and above with co-morbid conditions were eligible for vaccinations.
India granted emergency use authorisation to two COVID-19 vaccines — Pune-based Serum Institute of India’s Covishield and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech International Ltd Covaxin which are being used in the government’s vaccination drive.