With Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking the jab at the AIIMS in Delhi in the morning, the third phase of covid vaccination for the elderly aged 60 years and above and those vulnerable in the age group of 45-59 years with comorbidities began in the country on Monday. This phase lasting till August is expected to cover 27 crores of people.

NEW DELHI, Mar 1: The third phase of vaccination against covid for the elderly and other vulnerable sections suffering from comorbidities began on Monday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking the vaccination at the AIIMS in Delhi early in the morning.

Modi was administered the indigenously developed and manufactured Covaxin of Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech. The only other vaccine being administered in India currently is the Oxford-developed Covishield manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India.

"Took my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS. Remarkable how our doctors and scientists have worked in quick time to strengthen the global fight against COVID-19. I appeal to all those who are eligible to take the vaccine. Together, let us make India COVID-19 free!," Modi tweeted.

The third phase, which will cover 27 crores of priority groups of the elderly aged 60 years and above and those vulnerable with comorbidities aged 45-59 years, is expected to be completed by August.

Private hospitals have also been authorised to provide the vaccination for a fee of Rs 250 per dose while it will be free of cost at the Government hospitals.

The online registration on Co-Win portal, where one can take an appointment, began at 9 am. There is also offline provision for walk-in registration. One has to produce the voter i-card for identity. Those in the 45-59 years age group will have to, additionally, bring a comorbidity certificate from any registered medical practitioner.

The vaccination against covid began in the country on January 16 with the first phase covering the health workers and later the phase two for frontline workers was started. Frontline workers include sanitary workers, firemen, police personnel etc. These two categories cover three crores of personnel. The vaccination is still on.

The epidemic had peaked in India by mid-September and the infections started falling fast but since early February there has been a sudden spurt in six States such as Maharashtra where the new cases were 8,623 on Sunday, Kerala (3,792), Punjab (593), Karnataka (523), Tamil Nadu (486) and Gujarat (451) Haryana and Madhya Pradesh also have started registering a surge in the cases.

It has not been confirmed whether the sudden surge of a second wave is due to laxity in vigilance or due to new mutated variants of coronavirus like in South Africa and the UK where the infection is spreading faster than earlier.

While the Centre has sent expert teams to study the surge, the affected States have stepped up surveillance and begun reimposing restrictions like limited local lockdowns and night curfews. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have restricted inter-State movements. There is a total ban on gatherings in Maharashtra, which imposes hefty fines on violators not wearing face masks.

The country recorded on Sunday 106 new deaths, taking the toll to 1,57,157. There were 16,752 new cases, the total figure reaching 1,10,96,731. A total of 21,68,58,774 sample testing have been done so far, the figure for Sunday being 6,27,668. So far, 1.42 crore health workers and frontline workers have been vaccinated in the country.