Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday made it clear to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that companies producing vaccines to battle Covid-19 must provide them to the Central and state governments at uniform rates.
In a letter to Modi, he also sought to know the quantity of vaccines to be provided monthly to Chhattisgarh by the Centre, approximate number of vaccines provided to the state monthly by the Serum institute and Bharat biotech as well as the cost of vaccines supplied to the Centre and states.
Baghel said it is expected that the cost of vaccines should be uniform for the Centre as well as states.
Since Covaxin has been developed with assistance from the Indian government, Bharat Biotech should supply it at a lower rate compared to the Serum Institute.
He said a uniform rate of vaccine would be justified as both the states and the Centre earn revenue from tax payers' money.
The Chief Minister's letter comes ahead of the start of the third phase of Covid vaccination from May 1 and amid reports that the vaccine to be supplied by the manufacturers may be priced lower for the Central government and higher for states.
Baghel said that in view of the Centre’s decision to make everyone above 18 years eligible to get vaccinated against Covid-19, the Chhattisgarh government had decided to arrange free of cost vaccination for its people in addition to the vaccines made available by the Indian government.
Stating that there are only a few days left for start of the third phase of vaccination, Baghel said it was necessary to prepare a detailed action plan before organizing the drive on such a vast scale.