Centre issues new guidelines for coronavirus vaccination from June 21

New Delhi : A day after PM Narendra Modi announces the Centre's move to purchase 75% of the total produce of coronavirus vaccines in India, the Central government on Tuesday announced new set of guidelines for the upcoming vaccination program that will come to effect from June 21 onwards.

According to the new guidelines, the vaccine doses will be provided to the states in accordance with their caseload and vaccination progress. The notice also mentioned that the price of vaccine for private hospitals will be decided by the manufacturer itself.

Earlier on Monday, the central government announced that it will provide free coronavirus vaccines to states and union territories for inoculation of all above 18 from June 21.

Check out the following points to know about the revised guidelines:

• The government of India will procure 75% of the vaccines being produced by the manufacturers in the country and will distribute them to states free of cost. These doses will be administered by the States/UTs free of cost to all citizens as per priority through Government Vaccination Centres.

• The prioritization will be followed during the coronavirus vaccination; it will be administered on priority to Health Care Workers, Front Line Workers, Citizens more than 45 years of age, Citizens whose second dose has become due, Citizens 18 years and above.

• Within the population group of citizens more than 18 years of age, States/UTs may decide their own prioritization factoring in the vaccine supply schedule.

• The allocation of coronavirus vaccines to the states and UTs will be done in accordance their population, disease burden and the progress of vaccination. Wastage of vaccine will affect the allocation negatively.

• The Government of India will provide States/UTs advanced information of vaccine doses to be supplied to them. States/UTs should similarly, further allocate doses well in advance to districts and vaccination centers. They should also put in the public domain the information about the above availability at district and vaccination center level, and widely disseminate it among the local population, maximizing the visibility and convenience of citizens.

• 25% of the total vaccine production can be directly sold to the private hospitals. 

• The price of vaccine doses for private hospitals would be declared by each vaccine manufacturer, and any subsequent changes would be notified in advance. The private hospitals may charge up to a maximum of Rs. 150 per dose as service charges. State Governments may monitor the price being so charged.

• Free vaccination will be for all citizens irrespective of their income status. Those who have the ability to pay are encouraged to use private hospital’s vaccination centres.

• The CoWIN platform provides every citizen the facility of conveniently and safely pre-booking vaccination appointments. All government and private vaccination centers would also provide an onsite registration facility, available both for individuals as well as groups of individuals, for which detailed procedure is to be finalized and published by States/UTs, in order to minimize any inconvenience to citizens.

The new guidelines will come to effect from June 21 onwards; the same will be reviewed on timely basis.