COVID-19 jabs for those over 60 and above 45 from March 1

New Delhi, Feb 24: From March 1 onwards people above the age of 60 years and those above 45 with comorbidities will be vaccinated free of cost, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said after the Cabinet meeting.

He said that the vaccination will take place at 10,000 government and over 20,000 private vaccination centres. The minister said that those who want to get vaccinated at private hospitals will have to pay.

The amount they will pay will be decided by the Health Miinistry in a few days. The ministry is in discussions with the manufacturers, the minister further added.

In another decision, the Cabinet approved the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for IT Hardware. Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the scheme proposes incentive to boost domestic manufacturing and attract large investments in value chain of IT Hardware. Target segments include laptops, tablets, all-in-one PCs & servers.

The Production-Linked Incentive Scheme for mobile phone and components which was announced in April during the height of COVID-19 delivered production worth Rs 35,000 crores, created 22,500 jobs and brought around Rs 1,300 crore investments, Prasad also said.

We are confident that production worth Rs 10 lakh crores will happen and around 8- 9 lakh of direct and indirect jobs will be created under PLI scheme in next 5 yrs. Scheme focuses on bringing global champions to India & to make Indian manufacturers national champions, Prasad also said.

Highlights of the Cabinet Meeting:

• 1st March onwards, people over 60 yrs or over 45 but with comorbidities can get vaccinated at 10,000 Government facilities and many private hospitals.
• Vaccines will be administered free at Government facilities; vaccines will be chargeable at private facilities.
• Cabinet approves Production Linked Incentive Scheme for IT Hardware; scheme proposes incentive to boost domestic manufacturing and attract large investments in the value chain of IT Hardware.
• Target segments include laptops, tablets, all-in-one PCs and servers.
• Total cost of the proposed scheme is approximately Rs.7,350 crore over 4 years, which
  includes an incentive outlay of Rs.7,325 crore and administrative charges of Rs. 25 crore
• The scheme has an employment generation potential of over 1,80,000 (direct and indirect) over 4 years. The Scheme will provide impetus to Domestic Value Addition for IT Hardware which is expected to rise to 20% - 25% by 2025.
• Cabinet approves PLI Scheme for Pharmaceuticals for a period of financial year 2020-21 to 2028-29 to promote production of high value products in country and increase value addition in exports.
• Total incremental sales of Rs.2,94,000 crore and total incremental exports of Rs.1,96,000 crore are estimated in six years from 2022-23 to 2027-28. Scheme expected to generate employment for skilled and un-skilled personnel, estimated at 20,000 direct and 80,000 indirect jobs.
• The scheme is expected to generate employment for both skilled and un-skilled personnel, estimated at 20,000 direct and 80,000 indirect jobs as a result of growth in the sector.