Coronavirus Live Updates: Centre To Provide Free Vaccines To States For All Above 18 Years

Coronavirus Live Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the centre would provide vaccines free of charge to all above 18 from June 21 and would take back control of vaccination from states.

The centre will provide free coronavirus vaccines to states and union territories for inoculation of all above 18 from June 21, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, announcing that the centre will take over the 25 per cent state procurement quota. Asserting that vaccine supply would be increased significantly in the coming days, PM Modi said the centre has now decided to buy 75 per cent of jabs from vaccine makers for free supply to states, while private sector hospitals will continue to procure 25 per cent of vaccines but they cannot charge more than Rs 150 per dose over the pre-fixed price. Under the earlier policy, the central government gave free vaccines to those above 45 and frontline workers, and left state governments and private hospitals to administer doses at a cost to people between 18 and 44. States were also providing free shots to this group. The PM's announcement came after Delhi and Mumbai cautiously lifted some of their lockdown restrictions, but warned residents to remain vigilant against the disease. Some shops and malls reopened in Delhi and the city's metro services were operating at 50 percent capacity. Maharashtra also eased restrictions based on infection rates and hospital bed occupancy. India on Monday reported 1.06 lakh cases -- after several days of 400,000-plus cases in May -- and nearly 2,500 deaths. The country's caseload now stands at 2.89 crore.