The third round of Covid-19 vaccination set to commence across Punjab from March 1, is expected to cover around 25 to 30 lakh eligible beneficiaries.

“In this round, vaccine will be administered to senior citizens above 60 years of age and citizens aged 45 to 59 suffering with co-morbidities as specified by the government. They shall be required to provide certification from Registered Medical Practitioner regarding the co-morbidity,” said the state Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Sunday.

Sidhu said that the pre-registration for vaccination is not mandatory in this round of vaccination and those desirous of vaccination, can pre-register or just walk-in for the same. “However, it is advisable that senior citizens may pre-register in order to avoid waiting in the health facility for vaccination,” he added.

The vaccine will be administered free of cost in all government hospitals while private hospitals are authorized to charge Rs 150 per dose and may charge up to Rs 100 additional as service provision charges, he added.

Sidhu said that in the meanwhile, the vaccination for healthcare workers and frontline workers would continue along with this round of vaccination even if they have not registered earlier they can get onsite registration by walk in.

As of today, according to the daily media health bulletin, as many as 88,499 healthcare workers and 65,567 frontline workers have been inoculated with the first dose, while a total of 36,252 healthcare workers have been given the second dose of vaccination till date.

The third phase of the vaccination, starting Monday, is expected to cover around 24 lakh citizens in Punjab who are above 60, while another four to five lakh people, who are between 45-59 years, with co-morbidities.