Aim to vaccinate those who need not those who want: Centre on reducing age bar

Amid demands from several quarters that the age limit for Covid-19 vaccination be relaxed, the Centre on Tuesday said the aim is to protect those who are most vulnerable.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the aim is not to "administer the vaccine to those who want it but to those who need it".

Bhushan said that even Western countries have conducted the vaccination drive in phases.

"The basic aim is to reduce death through vaccination. The other aim is to protect your healthcare system. If healthcare workers, doctors, nurses, paramedics and others fall sick, who will work in hospitals? So the aim, for any country, is to protect those who are the most vulnerable. The aim is never to administer the vaccine to those who want it but to those who need it," Bhushan said.

NITI Aayog member Dr V K Paul said the narrative has to be seen in a scientific way.