The Centre on Saturday said that the workplace COVID-19 vaccine drive will be extended to all dependents and family members of employees, reports ANI.

Also Read | Sri Lankan players who tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of Bangladesh ODI

The Union Health Ministry, in a letter to all chief secretaries, said the vaccine for employees’ beneficiaries in the public and private workplace CVCs (COVID-19 vaccination centres) would have to be obtained from hospitals with which the employer has collaborated for the vaccination drive.

However, employees between the ages of 18 and 44 can be covered by vaccine doses obtained directly from the corresponding state/UT governments’ vaccine producers, according to the ministry.

Previously, the Union Health Ministry required citizens above the age of 45 to be vaccinated at public and private offices in order to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Also Read | Neena Gupta on playing Kanwaljit Singh’s lover in 90s to mom in 2021

With the third phase of the vaccine drive extending vaccine beneficiaries to the 18-44 age range, the policy of expanding it to employees’ family members raises its availability multi-fold.