Free Covid-19 vaccine for all adults from June 21

The central government’s new policy for Covid-19 vaccination in the country will come into effect on June 21. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Centre will take over the existing Covid vaccination drive, which was partly being carried out by the states since May 1. The Centre's new policy came days after Supreme Court slammed the ongoing vaccination drive for the 18-44 age group and called it "arbitrary and irrational."

Here's all you need to know about the government's new vaccination policy:
1. The Centre will provide free vaccines to the states for all citizens above the age of 18 years. The Centre will buy 75 per cent of the total vaccine production from vaccine manufacturers and give it to the state governments free of cost.
2. No state government will have to spend anything on the vaccine. All above 18 years of age in the country to get free vaccination at government facilities from June 21 (Several states were already giving free vaccines to all in the 18-44 age group)
3. Vaccine doses provided free of cost by the Centre will be allocated to states/UTs based on criteria such as population, disease burden and the progress of vaccination.
4. Private sector hospitals will continue to procure 25 per cent of vaccines directly from manufacturers.
5. Service charge of private hospitals to be capped at Rs 150 per dose over fixed price of the vaccine.
6. The task of monitoring it will remain with the state governments.
7. All government and private vaccination centers would also provide onsite registration facility, available both for individuals as well as groups of individuals, for which detailed procedure is to be finalized and published by states/UTs.
8. States may also optimally utilise the Common Service Centres and Call Centres to facilitate prior booking by citizens.