Bhubaneswar, Apr 25 (PTI) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday announced free COVID vaccination for everyone in the state above the age of 18.

In a video message to the people of the state, Patnaik said the government will be spending Rs 2,000 crore towards vaccination of 2 crore people.

"The people will not have to spend anything towards the vaccination," Patnaik said.

Vaccination for people above the age of 45 is underway and it is already free of cost.

Inoculation for those above 18 will begin on May 1.

(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)