Panaji, Apr 22 (PTI) The Goa government will inoculate those between the ages of 18 to 45 against coronavirus free of cost, it announced on Thursday.

The state will be procuring five lakh doses of Covishield vaccine initially, it said.

State Additional Secretary (Health) Vikas Gaunekar informed the Directorate of Health Services about the decision in a letter.

The Union government earlier this week opened the COVID-19 vaccination drive for the entire adult population in the country and allowed states to purchase vaccines on their own.

"I am pleased to convey Government approval to provide COVID vaccine doses to all population in the age group 18-45 through the state government free of cost," Gaunekar said in the letter.

Initially, the state government will purchase five lakh doses from the Serum Institute of India, the letter added.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)