The Union Health Ministry on Saturday, 27 March, released the final list of comorbidities approved for phase 2 of vaccination starting March 1. It has fixed the price of COVID-19 vaccines at Rs 250 per dose at private hospitals for people above 60 years of age and those above 45 years of age with comorbidities. People will be vaccinated free of cost at the government hospitals.
So if you are 45 years plus and living with any of these comorbidities, you qualify for the vaccine:
Heart failure with hospitalisation in the last one year
Post cardiac transplant/Left Ventricular Assist Device
Significant left ventricular systolic dysfunction
Moderate or severe valvular heart disease
Congenital heart disease with severe PAH or Idiopathic PAH
Coronary Artery Disease with past CABG/PTCA/MI AND hypertension/diabetes on treatment
Angina and Hypertension/Diabetes on treatment
CT/MRI documented stroke and Hypertension/Diabetes on treatment
Pulmonary artery hypertension and Hypertension/Diabetes on treatment
Diabetes (> 10 years or with complications) and Hypertension/Diabetes on treatment
Kidney/liver/Hematopoietic stem cell transplant: Recipient/on wait list
End stage kidney disease on haemodialysis/CAPD
Current prolonged use of oral corticosteroids / immunosuppressant medication
Decompensated cirrhosis
Severe respiratory disease with hospitalisations in last two years/FEV1 < 50%
Lymphoma/leukaemia/Myeloma
Diagnosis of any solid cancer on or after 1st July 2020 or currently on any cancer therapy
Sickle Cell Disease/ Bone marrow failure/ Aplastic Anemia/ Thalassemia major
Primary Immunodeficiency diseases/ HIV infection
Persons with disabilities due to intellectual disabilities/ muscular dystrophy/ acid attack with involvement of respiratory system/ persons with disabilities having high support needs/ multiple disabilities including deaf blindness
As per earlier reports, the protocol to qualify will include doctors scoring the patient as per a set criterion, and often new tests to verify may be needed. These medical certificates need to be uploaded on the Co-WIN IT platform. The aim is to give the vaccine to those who are most at risk of dying.