Government will start administering COVID-19 vaccine to people above 60 years of age from 1st of next month. Those above 45 years of age with comorbidities will also be vaccinated in this phase.

Briefing reporters in New Delhi today after the Union Cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said the vaccine will be administered free of cost at ten thousand government hospitals to these groups while the cost of the vaccine at 20 thousand private vaccination centres will be borne by them.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 recovery rate in the country presently stands at 97.25 per cent. The Health Ministry said 14,037 people were discharged after recovery during the last 24 hours.

Till now, 1,07,26,702 people have recovered from the COVID-19 infection. In the last 24 hours, 13,742 new cases were reported. With this, the total number of cases have reached 1,10,30,176. The Ministry said, 104 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. So far, 1,21,65,598 beneficiaries have been vaccinated.