The third phase of Covid-19 vaccination drive targeted at senior citizens is likely to get underway anytime in March, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan told the Lok Sabha on Friday.
In the third phase, the government aims to administer the vaccine to those above 50 years of age, which is expected to cover Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several chief ministers and a host of political leaders.
The government aims to cover an estimated 27 crore persons during the third phase of the vaccination drive, which would also include persons below 50 years, but with co-morbid conditions.
Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, the Health Minister said the third phase of vaccination would begin after the completion of the first and the second phase.
“It may not be possible to given an exact date right now, but as per our assessment the third phase of vaccination can begin anytime in March,” the minister said.
Separately, the Health Ministry said 52,90,474 beneficiaries have been administered the Covid-19 vaccines till 6:00 p.m. on Friday.
It said that a 77-year-old man from Agra had died within a week of vaccination due to shock with pre-existing diabetes.
A total of 22 deaths have been reported post-vaccination, but none have been causally linked with the Covid-19 vaccines.
Harsh Vardhan said that the finance minister has allocated Rs 35,000 crore for vaccination in the budget and has assured that it could be increased if required.
He said two vaccines – Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech – have been approved for emergency use authorisation.
Besides these, work is in progress on seven vaccines of which three were in the Phase III clinical trial stage, two in Phase I and II stages and the remaining two in advanced pre-clinical stage.
The minister said that India has received requests for vaccines from 22 countries and 61 lakh doses have been shipped to 15 countries, including five lakh under contracts.