Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced that the state governments will no longer have to spend on Covid-19 vaccines and the Centre will now provide doses for the 18 to 44 age group.
“The Centre will procure 75% of the jabs manufactured by vaccine makers and provide them to states free of cost,” Modi said while addressing the nation. “From June 21, Centre will provide free vaccines for all citizens above the age of 18.”
However, private hospitals will continue to buy 25% of the total vaccine stock. This means some beneficiaries will have to pay for their vaccines if they choose to get inoculated at non-government medical facilities.
Under India’s third phase of the immunisation programme, the Centre had announced that vaccine manufacturers will supply 50% of their monthly Central Drugs Laboratory-released doses to the Union government and the remaining 50% doses to state governments and in the open market.
