As part of the COVID-19 vaccination drive, India prepares to begin its next phase of the vaccination from March 1st, nearly six weeks after the commencement of the first phase of the vaccination drive with the target of administering the vaccines for three crore frontline workers across the country. 

In the next phase, the country will be vaccinating people aged above 60 years and those over 45 with comorbidities. India has been rolling out the massive drive through two indigenous vaccines - Covishield and Covaxin. While the COVID-19 vaccine will be given free of cost at government hospitals, people who wish to get vaccinated at private hospitals must pay for the vaccine and for the service. 

According to reports, the private facilities will be charging Rs 250 per vaccine dose. It has been reported that Rs 250 will be the ceiling - Rs 150 would be the cost of the vaccine while Rs 100 will be a service charge. This arrangement will remain effective till further orders and the Central government has been informed about the arrangement for all the states and union territories. 

On Friday, the Union Health Ministry said that the beneficiaries would be able to self-register in advance by downloading the CoWIN app through the portal and through other IT applications like as Aarogya Setu, which will show the government and private hospitals serving as COVID-19 vaccination centers with date and time of the available schedules. The Ministry further said that the beneficiaries would be able to choose the vaccination center of their choice and they can book an appointment for vaccination. 

The Ministry further added that there will be a facility of on-site registration so that eligible beneficiaries can arrive at the vaccination centers and they can register themselves before receiving the dose. The reports say that the list of comorbidities that will make people about 45 years to become eligible for the vaccine has been released and as per the list, people who are suffering from heart disease with hospital admission in the last year, people with diabetes for over ten years or with complications, and hypertension on treatment can get vaccinated. 

During a meeting held on Friday, the representatives of states and Union Territories were explained the basic features of version 2.0 of the CoWIN app, and the states and UTs were advised to ensure that the private health facilities have adequate space for the vaccination process, as detailed in the comprehensive SOPs issued by the ministry, basic cold chain equipment, their own team of vaccinators and staff, and adequate facility for management of any adverse event. 

The beneficiaries are mandated to carry their ID documents such as Aadhar Card or Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC), certificate of comorbidity for citizens in the age group of 45 years to 59 years, and employment certificate/official identity card for healthcare workers, and frontline workers. It must be noted that the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive was launched on January 16 and it was aimed at vaccinating three crore frontline workers. According to the Union Health Ministry, India has administered over 1.37 crore doses of vaccines so far as of Friday since January 16.