New Delhi: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has said that not everyone needs to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
“Every vaccine doesn’t require universal immunisation and all these priority groups whom we are vaccinating today like healthcare staff first and then senior citizens and people aged between 45 and 59 years, it will be extended in the coming days – all these are based on experts’ opinion. Not only Indian experts, but we have also consulted WHO guidelines regarding priority groups,” the minister said on Friday.
By this, he meant that not all diseases require universal immunisation to control or eradicate the disease.
Some experts believe that around 70 per cent population need to be immunized to achieve herd immunity.
Vardhan also said there will be more COVID-19 vaccines introduced in the country soon.
India is currently vaccinating people above 60 and above 45 with comorbidities.