Modi takes COVAXIN jab, India starts vaccine for seniors |
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1st March 2021 took the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at India`s premiere tertiary care institution, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, marking the start of the second and big phase of vaccinating senior citizens and those above 45 years of age with co-morbidities. The move sent a significant signal that Indian vaccine was safe and available. PM Modi tweeted to appeal to all eligible to take the vaccine, applauding doctors and scientists who worked quickly to strengthen the global fight against COVID-19. Modi was administered Bharat Biotech`s COVAXIN. The nationwide COVID-19 vaccination phase opened at 9 AM India time to register using the website www.cowin.gov.in. Citizens will book an appointment for vaccination, anytime and anywhere, using the COWIN 2.0 portal or through other IT applications such as Arogya Setu. The vaccine will be administered free of cost at 10,000 government hospitals to these groups. However, the cost of the vaccine at around 20,000 private Vaccination Centres will be borne by the people. Private Hospitals can charge up to 250 Rupees per dose of COVID-19 vaccine. India`s Health Ministry said the States have been given the freedom to use all private hospitals empanelled under State Government Health Insurance Schemes as COVID Vaccination Centres. The states can also use health facilities of all PSUs and all government health facilities as COVID Vaccination Centres. States have been apprised of the simplified system of certifying people with 20 comorbidities within the 45 to 59 years age group. The simplified one-page certificate will be signed by any registered medical practitioner. With one mobile number, a person can register as many as four beneficiaries. To avail of online registration, the citizens can use photo identity documents like Aadhar Card, Electoral Photo Identity Card, Passport, Driving License, PAN Card, NPR Smart Card and Pension Document with photograph. The government has identified 20 specified comorbidities which include Heart trouble with hospital admission in the past one year, Post Cardiac transplant, Kidney and Liver transplant recipient or on wait-list, Leukaemia, lymphoma, HIV infection, Diabetes and Hypertension on treatment and Severe respiratory disease with hospitalization in the last two years.
|
|
|
|