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Buying shots is ongoing work, Centre replies to RTI plea, The Government has used roughly Rs 4,500 crore of the total Rs 35,000 crore meant for procuring the Covid-19 vaccine. u201cRs 4,488.75 crore has been released to HLL Lifecare Limited (the procurement agency for the Union Health Ministry) till date towards procurement of Covid-19 vaccines Covishield (21 crore doses) manufactured by M/s Serum Institute of India and Covaxin (7.5 crore doses) manufactured by M/s Bharat Biotech International Limited at the unit cost of Rs 157.50 including taxes (Rs 150 five per cent GST),u201d the Government said
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Rs 4,500 cr of Rs 35,000 cr used to get Covid jabs Buying shots is ongoing work, Centre replies to RTI plea The Government has used roughly Rs 4,500 crore of the total Rs 35,000 crore meant for procuring the Covid-19 vaccine. “Rs 4,488.75 crore has been released to HLL Life care Limited (the procurement agency for the Union Health Ministry) till date towards procurement of Covid-19 vaccines Covishield (21 crore doses) manufactured by M/s Serum Institute of India and Covaxin (7.5 crore doses) manufactured by M/s Bharat Biotech International Limited at the unit cost of Rs 157.50 including taxes (Rs 150 + five per cent GST),” the Government said in its response to a Right to Information plea filed by activist Saurav Das. The Government’s reply, dated May 26, also said that initially, through the PM-Care funds, the Government procured 5.6 crore doses of Covishield at the unit cost of Rs 210 including taxes (Rs 200 + five per cent GST) and one crore doses of Covaxin at the unit cost of Rs 309.75, including taxes (Rs 295 + five per cent GST). So, the Rs 4,488.75
crore has been used for the procurement of two Covid-19 vaccines at the unit cost of Rs 157.50 including taxes (Rs 150 + five per cent GST). “The procurement of the Covid-19 vaccine and vaccination is an ongoing process,” the RTI response added. Earlier, the Supreme Court on May 31 had asked the Union Government to clarify how the Rs 35,000 crore earmarked in the Union Budget for procuring vaccines had been spent so far. Further, the top court had asked why these funds cannot be used for giving free vaccination for those in the age group 18 to 44 years. The apex court posed this question to the Union Government in the suo motu case that the top court was hearing on the coronavirus situation in India. Apart from calling the Government’s policy “arbitrary and irrational”, the court also said that the Union Government justifying its lower prices (for vaccines) on account of its ability to place large purchase orders, raises the issue as to why this rationale is not being employed for acquiring 100 per cent of the monthly CDL doses. The Union Budget for the Financial Year 2021-2022 had earmarked Rs 35,000 crore for procuring vaccines. “In light of the Liberalised Vaccination Policy, the Central Government is directed to clarify how these funds have been spent so far and why they cannot be utilised for vaccinating people aged 18-44 years,” the Bench said.