Procedural, financial aspects of free Covid vaccine already discussed: Union minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi

BHUBANESWAR: Union minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi, on Tuesday, said that preparations is in full swing for providing Covid-19 vaccine free of cost across India. The cost of the vaccines would be around Rs 80,000 crore.
Sarangi, union minister of state for animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries and MSME, who had earlier announced Centre’s decision of free vaccine for all in Balasore, said, “There is no financial constraint for the proposed vaccination. The national expert group on vaccination has already discussed procedural and financial aspects for providing free vaccine to all.”
In a statement, Sarangi said, “Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute on September 26, spoke about the likely expenditure of Rs 80,000 crore for vaccinating all in the country. On September 29, union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan spoke about the national expert group on vaccination being constituted for providing the vaccine free of cost and for making financial estimate for the same. The group had already met five times by then. It has already discussed procedural and financial aspects.”
After the vaccine is launched, 30 crore Covid warriors vaccine first followed by people above 50 years age group. To maintain the cold chain and make the vaccines available in health centres, electronic vaccine intelligence network will be used, he said.
Responding to a statement by Odisha’s food supplies and consumer welfare minister Ranendra Pratap Swain that Odisha had already signed an MoU with Serum Institute for providing vaccines to the state, the union minister said, “It is neither the Odisha CM nor the food supplies and consumer welfare minister who will provide vaccine. It is the Modi government which will provide the vaccine free of cost.”
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