All hospitals can provide Covid-19 vaccine: Centre

NEW DELHI: The Central government has informed all states and Union territories that all hospitals— private and government— can provide vaccines for coronavirus.

In a meeting on Tuesday, the Centre stated that there is no shortage of vaccines and all Covid-19 vaccination centres will be provided with the doses.

Earlier the Health Ministry had said that the states and Union territories should not store and preserve the buffer stock of the corona vaccine. The Central government has sufficient stocks of vaccine and will provide the required amount of vaccines to all.

The Centre has ordered all the states and Union Territories to take help of private hospitals who are associated with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and State Health Insurance Scheme for the vaccination drive.

Private hospitals which are not mentioned in the list of 3 categories are also allowed to conduct the vaccination process if they are having a sufficient amount of staff, space and cold chain with them.

The second phase of the vaccination drive is commenced from March 1, 2021, in which senior citizens above the age of 60 and people who are suffering from severe disease above the age of 45 will be provided with the vaccine first.