How much you need to pay for Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik V shots

New Delhi : The Centre on Wednesday fixed MRP for coronavirus vaccines – Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V – available in India and asked states to monitor that the private hospitals are not charging more than the fixed price, including a service charge of Rs 150.

The price of Covishield has been fixed at Rs 780 a dose, Russian vaccine Sputnik V at Rs 1,145 a dose and indigenously made Covaxin, at a steep Rs 1,410 a dose. This includes taxes as well as a 150-rupee service charge for the hospitals.

The state governments have been asked to keep a check on private hospitals that not more than Rs 150 is charges as service charge; it has asked to take strict action against the hospitals found guilty.

Under the new vaccination policy, announced by PM Narendra Modi, the free vaccination of all age groups will begin from June 21. The Central government will be purchasing 75 per cent of the vaccines produced by companies, including the 25 per cent currently assigned to states. Private hospitals will continue to buy the remaining 25 per cent and vaccinate those who are willing to pay.

In government-run institutions, vaccines will be provided for free to all eligible persons, Prime Minister Modi said in his address to the nation.

After the Prime Minister's address to the nation yesterday, Congress's Rahul Gandhi questioned why people have to pay for vaccination in private hospitals.

Under the hashtag #FreeVaccineForAll, he tweeted, "One simple question- If vaccines are free for all, why should private hospitals charge for them?"