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CMs of Delhi, Maharashtra, Rajasthan request Centre to relax age bar for vaccination to combat Covid-19 spread

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 4/7/2021 11:41:12 AM

Mumbai, Apr 6 Chief ministers of three states -- Delhi, Maharashtra and Rajasthan -- on Monday appealed to the Centre to lower or remove the age bar for the Covid-19 vaccination. These three states have been reporting an exponential increase in Covid-19 cases from the past few months. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to relax the age criterion for getting inoculated. In his letter, Uddhav Thackeray requested PM Modi to allow people above 25 years of age to receive Covid-19 shots, saying that it will protect young people from the rapid spread of coronavirus at a time when they are stepping outside their homes to earn a livelihood. Uddhav Thackeray said that youth needs to be protected from Covid infection and hence, their vaccination should be a priority now. Uddhav Thackeray also said that vaccinating a large number of young people, especially those who work outside their homes, would help reduce the number of patients. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to PM Modi to lift the age restriction for the Covid-19 vaccination. "Coronavirus has increased rapidly. To stop this, everyone should be vaccinated. I appeal to the Hon'ble Prime Minister and the Central government to allow the vaccination for all by removing the age bar. Vaccination should be allowed in private medical institutions along with government institutions," Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said. In his letter to PM Modi, Arvind Kejriwal said, "Except for those who cannot get vaccinated due to medical reasons, we should start vaccinating everyone. This will remove the hesitation among people and increase the number of those getting vaccinated.