Centralised free Covid-19 vaccination policy for all adults begins today

The centralised free vaccination policy is set to kick off on Monday under which the government will provide free COVID-19 vaccine to all adults above 18 years of age.

"From June 21 (International Day of Yoga), the Centre will provide free vaccines to states," announced PM Modi said in a televised address to the nation.

" Whether it is the poor, the lower middle class, the middle class, or the upper-middle class, under the central government programme, everyone will get free vaccines," the Prime Minister added.

Under the nationwide vaccination drive, and the Centre would procure 75 per cent of vaccines and give them to states for free distribution to all citizens above the age of 18.The Centre will also handle the 25 per cent vaccination that was with states till now under the liberalised plan announced earlier.

Private hospitals will continue to buy the remaining 25 per cent and inoculate those willing to pay for their jabs. They can't, however, charge more than Rs 150 as a service charge per dose over the fixed price of the vaccine, the PM said.

"There will be a systematic flow of vaccines to the private sector as well. I am hopeful that in this way, there will be a lot of energy in the participation of the private sector and vaccination sites will increase," Dr VK Paul, Member, Health of the Niti Aayog said.

However, the health minister had stated that the maximum price that can be charged per dose by private vaccine centres for the three vaccines currently available in the country is - Rs 780 for Covishield, Rs 1,410 for Covaxin and Rs 1,145 for Sputnik V.