As India continues to battle the novel coronavirus pandemic, there is good news for people above 50 years of age. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday announced the people above 50 years of age will be administered the coronavirus vaccine from next month.
“We will be in a situation to administer vaccines to those above 50 years of age in March,” he said, adding no new COVID-19 cases have been reported in the country’s 188 districts in the last seven days.
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Asserting that about 80 to 85 percent frontline workers have been vaccinated so far, he said: “At least 18 to 20 vaccines are in preclinical, clinical and advanced stages and are expected in the coming months.”
The Health Minister, who was interacting with the media in the national capital, said India is in a stage where COVID-19 vaccines were provided to around 25 countries in the world.
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Vardhan further said the COVID-19 crisis helped in strengthening the country’s health potential, adding the crisis turned into an opportunity.
India’s total active caseload currently stands at 1.39 lakh. The active caseload consists of 1.28 percent of India’s total positive cases.
33 states and Union Territories have reported less than 5,000 active cases in the last 24 hours.
Tripura and Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli currently have only two active cases each. Kerala, Maharashtra and Karnataka cumulatively account for 77 percent of India’s total active cases.