Last Updated: Centre Defends COVID-19 Inoculation Age Bar; Says Aim Is To Vaccinate Those 'who Need It' Even as the CMs of Delhi, Maharashtra and Rajasthan urged the Centre to relax the age cap for COVID-19 vaccination, the latter defended its approach on Tuesday. PTI Even as the CMs of Delhi, Maharashtra and Rajasthan urged the Centre to relax the age cap for COVID-19 vaccination, the latter defended its approach on Tuesday. At present, only people above 45 years of age can get inoculated. Addressing a press briefing, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan explained that the two aims of the inoculation drive are to prevent deaths and protect the healthcare system. Countering the demand to make vaccination available for all those aged above 18 years, he stressed that the goal is to administer the vaccine to those who need it the most. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to chair a meeting of all the CMs on Thursday to take stock of the COVID-19 situation.