Private hospitals get govt nod for vaccination; price cap will be decided soon

New Delhi: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, on Wednesday, said that people who want to get vaccinated at private centres in the second phase will have to pay for the Covid-19 shots.

The second phase of the vaccination drive will begin from March 1.

“The vaccine will be given free of cost at government centres. Those who would take the vaccine at private centres will have to pay. The amount will be decided by the Health Ministry within the next three to four days as they are in discussion with manufacturers and hospitals,” the minister said at a media briefing after the Cabinet meeting.

The second phase of the world’s largest vaccination drive will start from Monday in which anybody above 60 and 45 plus with co-morbidities can be vaccinated at 10,000 government medical facilities and over 20,000 private hospitals.

“From March 1, people above 60 years of age and those above 45 years of age with comorbidities will be vaccinated at 10,000 government and over 20,000 private vaccination centres. The vaccine will be given free of cost at government centres,” Javadekar said.

This is the first time the private sector will be actively involved in administering vaccines, and doses will be available to eligible people who are willing to pay.

Around 27 crore people are expected to be covered in the second phase. Of this group around 10 crore are people over 60 years of age, the government said.