Sign-ups for 60+ to begin soon, those above 50 may have to wait

NEW DELHI: People aged above 60 years and those with other serious illnesses that increase their vulnerability to the coronavirus (comorbidities in medical lingo) will be allowed to self-register and choose where they want to get vaccinated for Covid-19 from March 1, an official familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, detailing one part of the government’s plans to accelerate the immunisation process.

But, unlike previously thought, people between the age of 50-60 may have to wait for now. An upgraded mobile application designed for the vaccination drive will allow eligible users to pick a different centre to be administered the second dose of the vaccine.

The move is meant to speed up the process when the next and the largest cohort of vaccine recipients — the first from the general public -- begin to be covered. An official in the ministry of electronics and information technology said that up to five members of one family can register on one account and get vaccinated together.