Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that his government will give free Covid-19 vaccines to all Indians in the 18-44 age group free of cost from June 21.

In a televised address to the nation, he said, "The Centre is taking back total control of vaccination now. …. It will give free vaccines to states for all people in the age group of 18 to 44 from June 21," reports our New Delhi correspondent.

People in the 18-44 age group have so far had to pay to get vaccinated.

Till now, Covid-19 vaccines have been supplied by the Modi government to the states free of cost to all those above the age of 45, and that will continue as before.

At the same time, there was also the option for these people to pay for vaccines at private hospitals.

Those aged 18-44 who want to pay for vaccines can continue to do so even after June 21 by going to private hospitals, which can still buy 25 percent of the doses directly from coronavirus vaccine manufacturers.

Modi said, "Seventy-five percent of vaccines will be procured by the central government and will be supplied to states to be given free of cost to beneficiaries and 25 per cent will be paid and [bought] by private hospitals," he said.

He also defended his government's vaccination policy in the face of mounting criticism by opposition-ruled states over the past several weeks amid a shortage of vaccines.

He said it was the states which wanted decentralisation of vaccination and that is why they were given 25 percent vaccination responsibility. Modi said compared to the demand, the production of vaccines was limited.

"If we did not have a made-in-India vaccine, can you imagine what would have happened in a country like India," he said.