2.6 crore eligible adults yet to take even single shot of Covid vaccine, minister Bharati Pawar tells Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, April 5: Minister of State for Health Bharati Pawar on Thursday informed the Rajya Sabha that India is nearing full Covid-19 vaccine coverage of adults. As of March 30, 84.4 per cent of the adult population had been fully vaccinated against coronavirus. However, as many as 2.6 crore eligible adults have so far not taken even a single shot of the Covid vaccine. Also read | Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt getting married in April: Reports Minister of State for Health Bharati Pawar told the Rajya Sabha that 97 per cent of all Covid -19 vaccine doses administered as of March 30 this year had been free of cost. “As on March 30, 2022, a total of 79.28 crore (84.4%) beneficiaries aged 18 years and above have received both doses of Covid-19 vaccines and 167.14 crore doses (97% of total dose administered) have been administered free of charge to eligible beneficiaries aged 18 years and above under National Covid-19 vaccination programme. An estimated 2.6 crore (2.8 per cent) eligible beneficiaries above 18 years of age have not taken even a single dose of coronavirus vaccine,” the minister said. As on March 30, 2022, against the estimated population of about 7.40 crore beneficiaries aged 15-18 years, 5.70 crore (77 per cent) have received at least one dose, 3.77 crore (51 per cent) beneficiaries have received both doses of Covid-19 vaccines. Further, against the estimated population of 4.7 crore beneficiaries aged 12-14 years, a total of 1.51 crore (32 per cent) have received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine. Also read | Covid-19 can have long-term impact on brain, says study The second dose for any of such beneficiaries has not become due, the government said in written replies. The minister added that the booster shot policy would follow scientific advice. -PTC News