Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday said that COVID-19 vaccine will be free of cost across the country, as India began its dry run for COVID-19 vaccinations.
Taking to Twitter, Harsh Vardhan said one crore healthcare workers and two crore frontline workers would be given free vaccine in the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive. The union health minister added that the details of how the remaining 27 crore priority beneficiaries will be vaccinated till July are being finalised.
"In 1st phase of #COVID19Vaccination free #vaccine shall be provided across the nation to most prioritised beneficiaries that incl 1 crore healthcare & 2 crore frontline workers. Details of how further 27 cr priority beneficiaries are to be vaccinated until July are being finalised," the minister tweeted.
India has set a target to vaccinate 30 crore people during the first phase of the vaccination programme.
The COVID-19 vaccination programme will begin with an estimated one crore healthcare workers, two crore frontline workers and 27 crore prioritise age groups persons above 50 years of age and persons younger than 50 years of age with underlying and co-morbidities based on evolving pandemic situation.
Meanwhile, the union health minister assured the efficacy and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine and urged the public not to be misguided by anti-vaccine rumours.
"Vaccine hesitancy was an issue even when we started polio immunisation drive but we must remember its success. I appeal to the people not to be misguided by rumours regarding safety & efficacy of #COVID19vaccine. We will not compromise on any protocol before approving a vaccine," Vardhan tweeted.
The union health minister visited GTB Hospital in Delhi to review the dry run drill for COVID-19 vaccine administration on Saturday.
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