Covid vaccine for all above 45 years of age from April 1

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 23

Reeling under a second surge of the pandemic India will expand the COVID 19 vaccine coverage to include all 45 plus people from April 1.

This will be the third priority group the government has declared for inoculation since vaccinations in India began on January 16.

Information minister Prakash Javadekar made the announcement today saying everyone who is above 45 years will be eligible for the shot from April 1.

The distinction of 45 to 59 year olds with co morbid conditions was part of the second priority inoculation group the government announced.

This distinction will go as India continues to record 40,000 plus daily new cases in new highs since November last year.

The aim is to induce vaccination based herd immunity in vulnerable populations.

The first priority group was health and frontline workers; the second was 60 year plus people and 45 to 59 year olds with co morbidities and the third announced today is all 45 plus people.