India initiates its next phase of COVID vaccines for the senior citizens above 60 years of age and comorbidities between the age of 45 and 59 from today. This phase of vaccination is expected to cover about 270 million beneficiaries and the registration would be open from 9am onwards on the upgraded Co-Win website and open until 3pm for same-day appointments.

Persons who are aged, or would attain the age of, 60 years or above as of January 1, 2021 are eligible to register, and in addition, all such persons who are aged, or will attain the age of, 45 years to 59 years as on January 1, 2021, and have any of the government-specified 20 comorbidities will be eligible to take the shot.

In a statement, Union health and family welfare ministry says, “…registration will open at 9.00am on March 1, 2021 (at www.cowin.gov.in).Citizens will be able to register and book an appointment for vaccination, anytime and anywhere, using the Co-WIN 2.0 portal or through other IT applications such as Aarogya Setu and more.”

According to the health ministry’s Co-WIN guidelines issued on Sunday, one person will be able to register only three more eligible persons using their mobile phone number. Those with specified comorbidities will have to produce a medical certificate attested by a registered medical practitioner at the time of vaccination at the chosen Covid vaccine centre.

The Central government will procure all the vaccines and supply them free of cost to the states and Union territories, who, in turn, will disburse them to government and private vaccination centres.

Vaccine will be available free of cost at government hospitals and at a capped price of Rs.250 per dose at private hospitals. The cost will comprise Rs.150 for vaccines and Rs.100 as operational charges.

Those with specified comorbidities will have to produce a medical certificate attested by a registered medical practitioner at the time of vaccination at the chosen Covid vaccine centre.

The Central government will procure all the vaccines and supply them free of cost to the states and Union territories, who, in turn, will disburse them to government and private vaccination centres.

Vaccines would be available free of cost at government hospitals and at a fixed price of Rs.250 per dose at private hospitals. However, the cost would comprise Rs.150 for vaccines and Rs.100 as operational charges.