Covid Vaccine Free In First Phase In India

The Government of India has signed an agreement to buy Covid-19 vaccine, Covishield, at Rs 200 per dose from Serum Institute of India (SII).

Earlier, the SII fixed the price at Rs 250 for the Indian government and at Rs 1,000 per shot for private players.

Reuters reported that the government was negotiating with SII to lower the prices and now, the agreement has been inked at Rs 200 per dose.

The vaccine dispatch reportedly will start this evening. It is learnt that the government will ink a purchase deal with Bharat Biotech too.

The Government of India will procure vaccines from both the manufacturers through HLL Care, a healthcare product manufacturing company based out of Kerala.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi later announced that the vaccination costs for the first phase will be borne by the Centre. He also said that frontline Covid-19 fighters and Corona workers would be the first ones to receive the jab. Modi made it clear that political functionaries are not among the frontline workers.

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