Centre’s New Guidelines For Free Vaccines To States Take Note Of Population

Mumbai: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced to make available free COVID-19 vaccines to states and union territories for the eligible population of 18 years and above, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday Tuesday issued revised guidelines for the implementation of the National COVID Vaccination Program.

Also Read: Centre To Provide Free Vaccines To States For 18+ Age Group From June 21: PM Modi

The guidelines of the ministry have explained in detail the points made by PM Modi during his address to the nation on Monday evening.

The revised guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health are as follows and will be applicable from June 21:

1. The government of India will procure 75% of the vaccines being produced by the manufacturers in the country. The procured vaccines will continue to be provided to the States/UTs free of cost, as has been the case since the launch of the National Immunization Programme. These doses will be administered by the States/UTs free of cost to all citizens as per priority through Government Vaccination Centres.
2. Within the population group of citizens above 18 years of age, States/UTs may decide their own priority factoring in the vaccine supply schedule.
3. The dose of vaccine provided free of cost by the Government of India will be allocated to the States/UTs on the basis of parameters like population, disease burden and progress of vaccination. Vaccine waste will negatively affect allocation.
4. Vaccination will be given priority in respect of doses of vaccine provided free of cost by the Government of India to the states: health care workers, frontline workers, citizens above 45 years of age, citizens whose second dose is due, Citizen 18 years and above.
5. The CoWIN platform enables every citizen to pre-book vaccination appointments easily and securely. All government and private immunization centres will provide onsite registration facility to individuals as well as groups of individuals, for which detailed procedure has been finalized and published by the States/UTs to minimize any inconvenience to the citizens.
6. States may also optimally utilize the Common Service Centres and Call Centres to facilitate prior booking by citizens.
7. The Government of India will provide advance information on the dose of vaccine to be supplied to the States/UTs. Similarly, States/UTs should allocate doses to districts and immunization centres in advance. They should put information about the above availability at the district and immunization centre level in the public domain, and widely publicized among the local population to maximize the visibility and convenience of the citizens.
8. The price of vaccine doses for private hospitals will be announced by each vaccine manufacturer, and any subsequent changes will be notified in advance. Private hospitals can charge a maximum of Rs 150 per dose as a service charge. The state governments can monitor the price being charged in this way.
9. All citizens irrespective of their income status are entitled to free vaccination. Those who have the ability to pay are encouraged to use private hospital’s vaccination centres.
10. To promote the spirit of “Lok Kalyan”, the use of non-transferable Electronic Vouchers which can be redeemed at private vaccination centres, will be encouraged. This would enable people to financially support vaccination of Economically Weaker Sections at private vaccination centres.

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