NEW DELHI: The government said on Tuesday that it disagrees with the estimate that Rs 80 billion is needed for the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine in India.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Rajesh Bhushan, was responding to a question tweeted by the executive director of the Serum Institute of India, Adar Poonawalla, who asked the government if it had Rs 80,000 crore during the next year for the distribution of the Covid vaccine- 19.
“Quick question: Will the government of India have Rs 80 billion available next year? Because that’s what @MoHFW_INDIA needs, to buy and distribute the vaccine to everyone in India. This is the next worrying challenge that we must address “. Poonawalla had tweeted.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Rajesh Bhushan, was responding to a question tweeted by the executive director of the Serum Institute of India, Adar Poonawalla, who asked the government if it had Rs 80,000 crore during the next year for the distribution of the Covid vaccine- 19.
“Quick question: Will the government of India have Rs 80 billion available next year? Because that’s what @MoHFW_INDIA needs, to buy and distribute the vaccine to everyone in India. This is the next worrying challenge that we must address “. Poonawalla had tweeted.
Fast question; Will the government of India have Rs 80 billion available next year? Because that’s w… https://t.co/jnlpTJda2B
– Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) 1601112818000
In response, Bhushan said: “We do not agree with the Rs 80 billion estimate. The government has set up a national committee of vaccine experts and five meetings have been held so far.”
“In these meetings, we have reflected on the Covid-19 vaccine distribution process and the amount required for it in terms of population prioritization and staggered immunization for this prioritization.
“We have calculated the required amount in the meetings and currently, that amount is available with the government,” Bhushan said.
.
