Coronavirus live updates: Kerala, Maha account for 75% of total Covid cases

Registration for the new category of 60 plus people and those between 45-60 with comorbidities will open at 9am on Monday using the Co-Win 2.0 portal (www.cowin.gov.in) or through other IT applications. So far, around 1.42 crore doses of the vaccines have been administered among health and frontline workers since the launch of the first phase of the drive on January 16. The expansion of the drive — aiming to cover a total of 30 crore ‘priority’ population — assumes significance at a time when the country is at a crucial juncture with many states witnessing the upswing in Covid-19 cases. A wider coverage of vaccination is expected to help India stay ahead of the curve.

Surprised that obesity has failed to make it to the list of 20 comorbidities that would determine the eligibility for Covid-19 vaccination for those between 45-59 years, experts say it should have been included as it was one of the common underlying conditions found in hospitalised patients. Overall, the categories of underlying conditions for vaccination released by the Union health ministry on Saturday has divided the medical community with some calling it exhaustive, while others have found it too restrictive.

India is set to enter the second phase of Covid-19 vaccinations on Monday, when registrations will open at 9am for senior citizens (60 years and above) and those aged 45 to 60 years with comorbidities. The expansion of the vaccine drive aims to cover a total of 30 crore “priority” population at a crucial juncture when several states are witnessing an upswing in cases.