Everyone aged above 60 and those over 45 with comorbidities will be able to get COVID-19 vaccine from March 1 for free at government facilities and for a charge at many private hospitals, the government said on Wednesday. The Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took the decision on the next phase of the vaccination, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said.

“The second phase of vaccination drive will start from Monday in which anybody above 60 years, that may not be less than 10 crore people in the country, and 45-plus with comorbidities will be given vaccines in 10,000 government medical facilities and over 20,000 private hospitals,” he said. “The government will purchase the necessary doses and will send them to all the states,” he said.