Pvt. centres may charge Rs 150 as vaccination service charge: Centre
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New Delhi: The Union government announced on Saturday that private medical facilities could charge a maximum of Rs 150 per dose of the Covid-19 precautionary vaccine as a service charge in addition to the cost of the vaccine, and vaccines will cost as same as its first dose. On Friday, the government had announced the rollout of precautionary doses for the 18-plus population at private centres, The Indian Express reported.
The new announcement was made by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan at an orientation meeting of health secretaries of all states.
On Friday, Union Health Minister Mansukh L. Mandaviya announced that citizens above 18 years could have precautionary doses from April 10 if they have completed nine months or 39 weeks after their second doses of Covid-19 vaccines.
On Saturday, Bhushan further said that beneficiaries need not register afresh since all due beneficiaries are already registered on the CoWIN platform. He said that all the vaccinations should be mandatorily added to the CoWIN. Both "online appointment" and "walk-in" registration will be available in private facilities. The precautionary doses will be the same vaccine administered in the first two doses or 'homologous', he said.
The meeting on Saturday included a detailed orientation of state officials on several new provisions added to the CoWIN platform to expand the eligible population for the third dose and correction of the vaccination certificates by citizens. The government urged the states to speed up free vaccination regarding first and second doses on those aged above 12.