No Free COVID Vaccines At Pvt Hosps: Odisha Govt

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s recent announcement for free vaccines for all in the 18-45age group will not be applicable to those who will get vaccinated at private health establishments, additional chief secretary, health and family welfare, Pradipta Mohaptra said on Thursday.

“No, ours is for all government vaccination centres,” he told Odisha Bytes when asked whether the government’s free vaccination campaign would apply to private hospitals as well. “Private hospital prices have been notified by both the companies and the private hospitals who want to function as CVCs (COVID Vaccination Centres). They have to procure their vaccines from the companies directly as per rates notified by the latter,” he added.

The private hospitals can buy COVAXIN from Bharat Biotech for Rs 1200 for a single dose while it can procure the Serum Institute of India, which manufactures Covishield vaccine developed by Oxford University and British drug firm AstraZeneca, for Rs 600. The companies are supplying the same to the government for Rs 400 and Rs 300 respectively. 

While the state government has announced free vaccines for those between 18 and 45 years from May 1, doubts have been raised if it could roll it out effectively from the said date considering the shortage of vaccines. It has placed orders with both companies but stocks might come in the second week, sources said.

People who do not have smart phones and finding it difficult to register their names for vaccination can do so through the common service centres, which almost exist in every gram panchayat, source added.