Over 13.3 lakh precautionary doses of COVID-19 vaccines were given to beneficiaries in the age group of 18-59 years till 10 pm on Friday, most of them free of cost under the 75-day special drive launched by the government. The “Covid Vaccination Amrit Mahotsav” began on Friday to provide free precautionary doses of vaccines to all those aged 18 years and above at government immunization centres.
This campaign is being carried out with the aim of promoting precautionary diet among the eligible population under the government’s “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” to commemorate 75 years of the country’s independence. The total number of COVID vaccine doses administered in the country has exceeded 199.69 crore. More than 20 lakh (20,98,849) vaccine doses were given till 7 pm on Friday. The number of daily vaccinations is expected to increase with the compilation of the final report by late night.
According to the Union Health Ministry, the total number of precautionary doses given to the beneficiaries in the age group of 18-59 has crossed 90 lakh. The number of vaccine doses given to beneficiaries aged 60 years and above has exceeded 2.78 crore. So far, more than 3.78 crore children in the 12-14 age group have been given the first dose, while more than 6.08 crore adolescents in the 15-18 age group have received the first dose. The nationwide vaccination campaign against the viral disease was launched on January 16 last year, in which healthcare workers were vaccinated in the first phase. The vaccination of frontline workers began on February 2 last year.
The next phase of COVID vaccination began on March 1 last year for people above 60 years of age and 45 years and above with specified comorbid conditions. Vaccination of all people above the age of 45 years began on April 1 last year. The Center then decided to expand the scope of the vaccination campaign by allowing all people above the age of 18 years to be vaccinated against COVID from May 1 last year. The vaccination of adolescents in the age group of 15-18 began on January 3 this year.
India began giving precautionary doses of vaccines to health care and frontline workers and people aged 60 and above from January 10. The country began vaccinating children aged 12-14 on March 16 and also removed the comorbidity clause, making everyone older. 60 years eligible to receive the precaution dosage. On 10 April, India began giving a precautionary dose of vaccines to all people over the age of 18.
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