News Desk :
India has taken a unique vaccination policy to tackle alarmingly increasing infections and deaths by coronavirus. In line with its plan, every citizen above the age of 18 years will be vaccinated free of cost from June 21. However, this can be availed only at vaccination centres run by the state governments and the central government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently has announced that India will shift to centralised procurement of Covid-19 vaccines, after several states had faced difficulties in procuring and managing the funding of vaccines, The Indian Express reported.
This marks a change from the previous policy from May 1, when the Centre had asked states to procure 25 per cent of the doses from the open
market to vaccinate the 18-44 year age group. Before that (January 16 to April 30), the Centre had procured and allocated vaccine doses to the states for free vaccination of three priority groups – healthcare workers, frontline workers, and persons above the age of 45.
Besides, every citizen above the age of 18 will be vaccinated free at vaccination centres run by the Centre or a state government from June 21.
In the previous policy starting May 1, a state could administer vaccines free to the 18-44 age group at centres run by the state government. At central government centres, only the three priority groups – healthcare workers, frontline workers, and those above age 45- were vaccinated free. From June 21, both state and central centres will administer vaccines free to all age groups.
Meanwhile, people of all ages will have to pay for vaccination at private centres. The private centres can charge only Rs 150 as service charge over and above the price of the vaccine.
The maximum price that can be charged by private centres is Rs 780 for Covishield, Rs 1,410 for Covaxin; and is Rs 1,145 for Sputnik V. The total cost of vaccination will be displayed on the CoWIN portal at the time you book your slot.
Official sources said the Centre will directly procure 75 per cent of the doses manufactured by vaccine companies, and distribute this among the states, to be administered free. From June 21, states will no longer have any role in procurement. Private hospitals will have exclusive access to the remaining 25 per cent.
Apart from it, the vaccine doses will be allocated based on three positive metrics – population, disease burden and the progress of vaccination – and one negative metric – wastage of vaccines. A state reporting good vaccination coverage will get a higher number of doses, while a state recording a higher wastage will receive a lower number.
