Third phase of COVID-19 inoculation drive starts today across the nation targeting persons above 60 years of age and above 45 with co-morbidities. In Chandigarh, the vaccination drive has opened up in 13 government healthcare sites and five private hospitals on March 1. The number of sites will be scaled up in the next few days.
Apart from online registration on cowin.gov.in, on-site registration is also available at all sites, including private hospitals. The government Covid vaccination centres (CVC) will provide free vaccination to the age-appropriate groups while the private hospitals will charge Rs 250 per person per dose. The timings of the vaccination are from 9 am to 4 pm. However, the walk-in registrations will close at 2 pm.
The Director, Health Services, Chandigarh, has issued instructions to all hospital vaccination sites to promote on-the-spot registration, especially on the first day. For the purpose, any one of the documents — Aadhaar card, electoral photo identity card and certificate of comorbidities for citizens in the age group of 45 years to 59 years — will be required.
All healthcare workers and frontline workers, citizens that are aged or will attain the age of 60 or above (as of Jan 1, 2022) or will attain the age of 45 years to 59 and have any of the specified co-morbidities are eligible for vaccination.
The 20 co-morbidities identified by Union Health Ministry for 45-59 years of age-group:
1. Heart failure with hospital admission in past one year
2. Post Cardiac Transplant/Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)
3. Significant left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF<40%)
4. Moderate or severe valvular heart disease
5. Congenital heart disease with severe PAH or Idiopathic PAH
6. Coronary Artery Disease with past CABG/PTCA/MI AND Hypertension/Diabetes on treatment
7. Angina AND Hypertension/Diabetes on treatment
8. CT/MRI documented stroke AND Hypertension/Diabetes on treatment
9. Pulmonary artery hypertension AND Hypertension/Diabetes on treatment
10. Diabetes (>10 years OR with complications) AND Hypertension on treatment
11. Kidney/ Liver/ Hematopoietic stem cell transplant: Recipient/On wait-list
12. End stage kidney disease on haemodialysis/CAPD
13. Current prolonged use of oral corticosteroids/immunosuppressant medications
14. Decompensated cirrhosis
15. Severe respiratory disease with hospitalisations in last two years/FEV1<50%
16. Lymphoma/ Leukaemia/ Myeloma
17. Diagnosis of any solid cancer on or after 1st July 2020 OR currently on any cancer therapy
18. Sickle Cell Disease/ Bone marrow failure/ Aplastic Anemia/ Thalassemia Major
19. Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases/ HIV infection
20. Persons with disabilities due to Intellectual disabilities/ Muscular Dystrophy/ Acid attack with involvement of respiratory system/ Persons with disabilities having high support needs/ Multiple disabilities including deaf-blindness.
Source: The Tribune, Zee News
