The Union Health Ministry has prioritised 30 crore people for COVID-19 vaccine.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan informed that health workers, police personnel, military and sanitation staff, people above 50 years of age and those who are below 50 years but are suffering from certain diseases will first get the COVID-19 vaccine.
“After consultation with experts, we’ve prioritized 30-cr people for COVID vaccine,” said Health Minister Harsh Vardhan to ANI.
“Our effort is that everyone in our priority list takes COVID vaccine. We will address the issue of vaccine hesitancy. But if anyone decides not to take it, we can’t force them,” Health Minister Harsh Vardhan further added.
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Further speaking on the matter Union Minister Harsh Vardhan hoped that COVID-19 will also get eradicated like polio.
“It was scientifically possible to eradicate polio. Ultimately, coronavirus will also subside and we will come across its sporadic occurrences,” Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said to ANI on being asked if COVID can be eradicated like polio.
Meanwhile, speaking on the preparations under way for the COVID-19 vaccination drive, the Health Minister informed the Centre has been working closely with the States for COVID-19 vaccination drive for the past 4 months.
“We’ve formed task forces at state, district & block levels. Thousands of master trainers have been trained across the country. We’ve conducted training at state level & trained over 20,000 workers in about 260 districts,” said Health Minister Harsh Vardhan to ANI.