Picture: Provided by The Times of India
PUNE: The government will, within 10 days, decide the funding procedure for the third phase of Covid vaccinations, which involves those aged 50 and above. An estimated 27 crore people are likely to be a part of this phase that’s set to start from mid-March.
However, it’s still unclear if vaccines will be free for this group. Currently, health and frontline workers — part of the first and second phase of Covid inoculation — are receiving their jabs for free as the central government has agreed to pay for doses. Experts said the third phase will need at least 60 crore doses.
Dr Vinod Paul, Niti Aayog member (health) and chairman of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC), said the government hasn’t yet decided if it’ll fully fund the third phase or split the cost between states. “The government will come out with guidelines within the next ten days,” he said.
Dr Paul said many options were being discussed, including the possibility of allowing corporates to deploy Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding to vaccinate employees and local communities. Sources in the health ministry said cost of the third phase may be shared between the Centre and states. “That share will be finalised soon,” a source from the ministry said.
“Discussions on funding are at an advanced stage and a decision is expected soon. The Centre may not fully fund phase 3. But it’s not expecting states to do so either,” the source said. Many states have written to the Centre seeking clarity on funding. In Maharashtra, health minister Rajesh Tope said the state is willing to pay for 50-plus individuals who are below the poverty line.
State director of health services, Dr Archana Patil, said with the Union budget announcing a special allocation for Covid-19, the Centre should, ideally, fund the third phase too as it has the highest number of beneficiaries so far. As for vaccine doses, both Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech have been told to ramp up production ahead of phase 3.
Article Credit: msn