NEW DELHI, Feb 28 (NNN-PTI) – Ahead of the second phase of COVID-19 inoculation drive, set to begin next month, the local government in India’s western state of Gujarat yesterday announced that, vaccines will be priced at INR 250 (3.40 U.S. dollars) in private hospitals.
The vaccine, however, will be available free of charge in government-run hospitals, Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Nitin Patel, said.
The ruling party of the state, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Gujarat, on its social media platform, shared the announcement.
“The government of India announced the price of COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine will be given free of cost in all government hospitals across the country. COVID-19 vaccine will be given in private hospitals at a cost of INR 250,” the party wrote on social media.
The second phase of the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive will begin from Mar 1 (tomorrow), with inoculations being carried on people above 60 years and those above 45 years of age but with co-morbidities.
A local news agency, quoting its sources, yesterday said, the federal government has fixed the price of vaccines at 3.40 U.S. dollars for a dose.
India is in the grip of an ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and globally it is the second worst-hit country.
India began the vaccination drive on Jan 16. At present healthcare and frontline workers are being vaccinated.
India’s health ministry yesterday said, over 14.2 million beneficiaries have been vaccinated, since the beginning of the vaccination drive. During the first phase, around 30 million healthcare and frontline workers will be vaccinated.– NNN-PTI
