On Monday, the Centre announced its strategy for the phase three of India’s Covid-19 vaccination campaign. Coming into force on May 1, pha...
On Monday, the Centre announced its strategy for the phase three of India’s Covid-19 vaccination campaign.
Coming into force on May 1, phase three opens up vaccinations to all adults above the age of 18. But it also shifts the burden of procuring vaccines for the 18-45 age band entirely on state governments, earning angry responses from chief ministers and policymakers in various state capitals.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a statement on April 19 saying vaccine manufacturers will have to allot 50% of the doses produced to the Centre. These vaccines will be allocated to the states on the basis of a set formula and will only be used for those who are currently eligible for the vaccines: Health care workers, front line workers and all adults over the age of 45.
The statement says that manufacturers will be allowed to sell the other 50% to state governments and in the open market. Unlike the 50% acquired by the Centre, at prices negotiated by the government of India, the manufacturers will be permitted to set “a pre-determined rate in a transparent manner” for the vaccines being sold to states and private entities.
In other words, state governments that choose to vaccinate adults...
