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uroia m Government of lndia
, 3n{w Department of Health and Family Welfare
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
D.O No. 1 940407/2020/Imm
RAJESH BHUSHAN, nS
23'd }/rarch2)2l
SECRETARY

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The COV lD-t4accination drive is going on in the country for Health Care
Workers, Front Line Workers, perSons aged 60 years and above and those aged 45-59
years with specified 20 comorbidities. Till 23'd March 2021, we have been able to
administer 4.85 cr. doses in the above mentioned prioritized group.

2. NEGVAC has been guiding all aspects of COVID-l9 vaccination drive on the
basis of available scientific evidence. Based on the recommendation of NEGVAC,
Government of India has now decided to expand the prioritized age group to include
all persons aged 45 years and above for COVID-l9 vaccination from 1lt April 2021.
Accordingly, there will now be no need for a comorbidity certificate for people aged
45 years to 59 years, from 1't April 2021. The CoWIN software is also being suitably
modified for doing away with the need for confirmation of comorbidities at the time of
online registration and on-site registration or for uploading the comorbidity certificate
at the time of vaccination. The registration on Co-Win would begin from 1't April
2021.

3. You are requested to kindly direct the concerned officials to immediately

undertake necessary measures for expansion of COVID-l9 vaccination drive to
include beneficiaries aged 45 years and above. You must also ensure wider
dissemination of information of such expansion amongst citizens for increased uptake
of vaccination services. Special focus should be given on optimal utilization of the
capacity of COVID-l9 Vaccination Centres (CVCs) while minimizing the wastage of
vaccines.

4. Your continuous guidance to the State/UT teams has been and remains critical
for the successful implementation of COVID-19 vaccination drive.

//a.rn {'*"'-/A ' Yours sincerely

/ S
(Rajesh Bhushan)
-
To :Chief Secretaries/Administrators of all States/UTs
Copy to: ACS/Principal Secretaries/Secretaries (Health) of all the States/UTs

Room No. 156, A-Wing, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi-110 011

Tele : (O) 011-23061863,23063221, Fax :011-23001252, E-mail :secyhfw@nic.in