Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand on Friday joined other States which have promised free Covid-19 vaccination to those above 18 years of age. This, even as the BJP announced free vaccination to all in Bengal on the lines of Bihar while the state’s incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on April 22 had already promised free vaccines from May 5 onwards.
The Friday announcement came days after the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) said that States will get the Covishield vaccine at Rs 400 per dose, private hospitals at Rs 600 and Centre at Rs 150. However, Bharat Biotech, manufacturer of Covaxin is yet to announce the price list for the States.
Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Sikkim have already announced free vaccination to the target segment, for which vaccination will start from May 1.
“Andhra Pradesh government has given vaccination top priority from the beginning. To take it closer to the people, vaccinations will be given to those aged 18 to 45 for free. With this decision, across the State, more than 2 crore people between ages 18 to 45 will benefit. This is the most crucial step towards preventing COVID-19 in the state,” Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Alla Kali Krishna Srinivas (Nani) told the media on Friday. This is likely to cost the State approximately Rs 1,600 crore. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy has already directed officials to place orders for Covid-19 vaccines accordingly.
Toeing a similar line, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat-led BJP government also announced that people above the age of 18 years in the State will be administered the Covid-19 vaccine free of cost at all government and private hospitals. His Jharkhand counterpart Hemant Soren, not to be left behind in the race, also announced that all residents of the State above 18 years of age will be given free vaccination for Covid-19.
“In Jharkhand, the corona vaccine will be provided free of cost to people above the age of 18 by the State Government,” Soren said in a tweet on Thursday night.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in his cabinet meeting last week had already announced that people above the age of 18 will be provided vaccine doses for free from May 1. “We have decided to vaccinate all above 18 years free of cost. The State Government will take forward the vaccination programme with its own resources,” he had said.
Several Chief Ministers like Chhattisgarh’s Bhupesh Baghel and personalities from various walks of life like actor Sonu Sood have already batted for free Covid preventive vaccine to the needy, and demanded a cap on its pricing.
“Every needy should get a vaccine for free. Very important to put a cap on the pricing. Corporates and individuals who can afford should come forward to help everyone get vaccinated. Let’s do business some other time,” Sood had tweeted on Wednesday.