New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday launched the revised guidelines for the nationwide COVID vaccination programme underneath which the central authorities will procure 75 per cent of the vaccines being produced by the producers within the nation.
According to the notification issued by the Centre, the revised guidelines can be carried out from June 21 and “will be reviewed from time to time”.
“The government of India will procure 75 per cent of the vaccines being produced by the manufacturers in the country. The vaccines procured will continue to be provided free of cost to States/UTs as has been the case from the commencement of the National Vaccination Programme. These doses will be administered by the States/UTs free of cost to all citizens as per priority through Government Vaccination Centres,” the notification mentioned.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Monday introduced a centralised procurement system for Covid-19 vaccines, starting from June 21, with 25 per cent of the procurement being made accessible for the non-public sector, in addition to free vaccinations for everybody above the age of 18.
He had additionally introduced a cap of Rs 150 on the quantity non-public hospitals can cost over the price of the acquisition of the vaccine from the producer. In respect of the vaccine doses supplied free of value by the Government of India to the States, the Centre mentioned that the vaccination can be prioritised because the following- Health Care Workers; Front Line Workers; Citizens greater than 45 years of age; Citizens whose second dose has turn out to be due; and Citizens 18 years and above.
As per the guidelines, throughout the inhabitants group of residents over 18 years of age, the Centre mentioned States/UTs could resolve their very own prioritisation factoring within the vaccine provide schedule.
“Vaccine doses provided free of cost by Government of India will be allocated to States/UTs based on criteria such as population, disease burden and the progress of vaccination. Wastage of vaccine will affect the allocation negatively,” the notification mentioned.
Further, the Centre mentioned that underneath the revised guidelines, it is going to present States/UTs advance data of vaccine doses to be provided 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,” it acknowledged.
In order to incentivise manufacturing by vaccine producers and encourage new vaccines, home vaccine producers are given the choice to additionally present vaccines instantly to non-public hospitals.
“This would be restricted to 25 per cent of their monthly production. States/UTs would aggregate the demand of private hospitals keeping in view equitable distribution between large and small private hospitals and regional balance. Based on this aggregated demand, the Government of India will facilitate the supply of these vaccines to the private hospitals and their payment through the National Health Authority`s electronic platform. This would enable the smaller and remoter private hospitals to obtain a timely supply of vaccines, and further equitable access and regional balance,” the federal government notification mentioned.
According to new guidelines, the worth of vaccine doses for non-public hospitals could be declared by every vaccine producer, and any subsequent modifications could be notified prematurely. “The private hospitals may charge up to a maximum of Rupees 150 per dose as service charges. State Governments may monitor the price being so charged,” it acknowledged.
The authorities famous that every one residents no matter their earnings standing are entitled to free vaccination, and those that have the power to pay are inspired to use non-public hospital`s vaccination centres.
Under the revised guidelines, to promote the spirit of “Lok Kalyan”, the usage of non-transferable Electronic Vouchers which may be redeemed at non-public vaccination centres, can be inspired, which might allow folks to financially assist vaccination of Economically Weaker Sections at non-public vaccination centres.
“The CoWIN platform provides every citizen with 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 Centre mentioned including that the states can also optimally make the most of the Common Service Centres and Call Centres to facilitate prior reserving by residents.
“The revised program provides States/UTs with additional central government support across funding, procurement and logistics. It also facilitates scientific prioritization, wider access, harnessing of private sector capacity and flexibility at the state and local level,” the Centre added.
The plan for centralised free COVID-19 vaccination was introduced to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 1 on the completion of 1 month of the decentralised mannequin. The implementation of the Liberalised and accelerated phase-3 technique of Covid-19 vaccination has began from May 1, 2021.
