In a letter to the states and union territories on Saturday, the Union Ministry of Health allowed employees’ family members and dependents to participate in the Covid-19 vaccination campaign conducted at workplaces.
Earlier, to increase the availability of covid vaccines, the Union Health Ministry had allowed people over the age of 45 to get vaccinated at public and private workplaces.
With the expansion of vaccine beneficiaries in the 18–44 age group in the third phase of the vaccination campaign, the guidelines to open it to family members of staff extend its reach manifold.
The official letter mentions, “Workers’ family members and dependents as defined by the respective employers may also be covered with Covid-19 vaccinations at Industrial Covid Vaccination Centers (CVCs) and workplace CVCs.”
The letter also mentioned that, to cover these beneficiaries, the vaccine will have to be procured by private hospitals with whom the employer concerned has contracted for vaccination.
Meanwhile, on the day-125 of the vaccination drive on Thursday, a total of 14,56,088 vaccine doses — 12,73,785 first dose and 1,82,303 second dose were given.
The ministry said of these 7,36,514 beneficiaries in the age group of 18-44 received their first dose on Thursday, and cumulatively the number reached 85,84,054 since the start of phase-3 of the vaccination drive on May 1.
 on Saturday, the Union Ministry of Health allowed employees' family members and dependents to participate in the Covid-19 vaccination campaign conducted at workplaces.){kind=link}