New Delhi: Budgetary resources will not be a constraint on vaccinating those in need against the coronavirus disease, said spending secretary TV Somanathan. mint in an interview on Tuesday, as the government plans to vaccinate 20-25 crore Indians by July next year.
“The Ministry of Finance will ensure that the availability of resources is not a reason for non-vaccination. Once the proven vaccines are available, we will definitely make the resources available; that is our responsibility and it will be done, “said Somanathan.
In September, the executive director of the Serum Institute of India, Adar Poonawalla, sparked a controversy by stating that the government may need ₹80 billion rupees over the next year for the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine to all people in India, calling it a “worrying challenge”. However, Health Secretary Ajay Bhushan later disagreed with that high estimate.
“I’ve seen reports that said ‘Oh, how the government will fund it!’ We are not a banana republic. We can afford to pay for the vaccine. We will find the money, we will somehow manage it, “Somanathan said, without revealing exactly how much the government can spend on vaccination.
When asked if vaccination will be free for all citizens, Somanathan said he did not mean that. “Those matters will be decided by the Ministry of Health and I am not strictly commenting on that. What I am saying is that there will not be any budget constraints that affect vaccination. I’m not necessarily saying it’s free. Whether or not those who can pay must pay is a separate issue. Certainly those who need a vaccine and cannot (afford), the government will make sure they get it. Sometimes when he doesn’t get paid, he is abused. It is diverted to the commercial market. So we have to be careful, “he added.
To counter vaccine nationalism and reduce the price of covid-19 vaccines, India along with South Africa have approached the World Trade Organization seeking an exemption from patent conditionalities on coronavirus-related drugs. The matter is likely to be discussed later this week.
Harsh Vardhan said on Tuesday that India will have a vaccine for the novel coronavirus from more than one source early next year. “We hope that early next year we will have vaccines in the country from perhaps more than one source. Our expert groups are formulating strategies to plan how to implement the distribution of the vaccine in the country, “tweeted the ANI news agency, citing the minister.
Earlier this month, Harsh Vardhan had said that the government plans to administer around 40-50 crore of Covid-19 vaccines to 20-25 crore of Indians by July, adding that the Center, together with the states, is also preparing a list of priority population groups, especially frontline health workers, who would receive vaccines.
The Covid-19 vaccines currently being tested in India are 2- and 3-dose vaccines. The Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech vaccine requires 2 doses, while the Cadila Healthcare vaccine requires 3 doses. For other vaccines in preclinical stages, the dosage is being tested.
Currently, two indigenously developed candidate vaccines, one from Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR and the other from Zydus Cadila Ltd, are in phase 2 of human clinical trials.
Pune-based Serum Institute of India, which has partnered with AstraZeneca to also manufacture the candidate Oxford Covid-19 vaccine, is conducting Phase 2 and 3 human clinical trials of the candidate in India.
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