IN MARCH PEOPLE WITHIN THE AGE BRACKET OF 50 AND ABOVE SHALL RECEIVE VACCINATION : HARSH VARDHAN

Health Minister, Harsh Vardhan on Friday has made an announcement in Lok Sabha that the third phase of vaccination against covid – 19 is expected to start in the month of March, in which people aged 50 and above along with comorbidities shall be vaccinated.

During the interview session, he also stated the number of people who have been vaccinated so far and which sums up to five million.

In a PTI report, he has revealed that the vaccination process for frontline workers has started this week. Further adding, “In coming days, 27 crore people who are of above 50 years of age and those under 50 with comorbidities will be vaccinated”.

Frontline and healthcare workers, who sum up to nearly three crores were the first to receive the vaccine have already begun its operation on January 16. Vardhan, according to the PTI report has stated, “After the completion of first and second phases, the third phase could be launched from any week next month .“ Unable to state any fixed date, he further added, “It is not possible to give an exact date, but we estimate that this process can start in the second, third or the fourth week of March”.

Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman has allocated Rs 35,000 crore for vaccination during the budget session that is liable to be increased if it’s needed. Only two vaccines for emergency authorization has been approved – Covishield by the Serum Institute and Covaxin by Bharat Biotech.

Harsh Vardhan is also hopeful about seven other vaccines whose work is in progress. Out of the seven, three vaccines are in the phase 2 clinical trial stage. The rest are either in phase 1 and 2 clinical trial stages or in advanced pre–clinical stages, as reported by PTI.