NEW DELHI: In his address to the nation on the evening of Monday, June 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India’s centralized COVID-19 vaccine policy, which is to be implemented in the coming two weeks.
He informed that 25 per cent of the COVID-19 vaccination work, which is currently being handled by the states, will now be handled by the Government of India. Therefore, now the GoI will be responsible for buying 75 per cent of the total vaccine production from vaccine manufacturers and the state governments will not have to spend anything on it. The private hospitals and centres will be able to purchase the remaining 25 per cent of the vaccines. However, PM Modi mentioned that these private entities can put a service charge of a maximum amount of Rs 150 per dose, over and above the base price of any vaccine.
PM Modi said that all citizens of India, above the age of 18 years, will be able to receive free vaccination from June 21, for vaccine supply in the coming days would be increased significantly in the nation. India is currently also working on producing an intranasal vaccine for COVID-19.