Vaccine price at Private Hospitals capped at Rs 250 per dose

From March 1, the next phase of India's vaccination drive will start in which people above 60 years and people over 45 years with specified comorbidities will be given COVID19 jab.

"States have explained that the private hospitals functioning as CVCs can charge subject to a ceiling of Rs. 250 per person per dose along with the electronic and financial management mechanism in this regard. Usernames and Passwords to be provided to the private facilities to facilitate effective use of CoWIN 2.0," said the health ministry.

To ramp up the COVID vaccination capacity manifold, a significantly large number of private facilities is being involved. Around 10,000 private hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY, more than 600 hospitals empanelled under CGHS and other private hospitals empanelled under State Government.

Health Insurance Schemes can participate as COVID Vaccination Centers (CVCs). Health Departments of State Governments have already initiated dialogue with these private hospitals so that they can be encouraged to participate in this drive as CVCs.

The simplified system of certifying people with 20 comorbidities within the 45-59 years age group was also explained to the States. The certificate can either be uploaded on Co-WIN2.0 by the beneficiary while self-registering or a hard copy can be carried by the beneficiary to the CVC.

The price was fixed after several rounds of meetings between government officials, led by V K Paul, who heads the National Expert Group on Covid19 Vaccine Administration, and representatives of Bharat Biotech and SII. The price for each dose of the vaccine for individuals will be less than the price at which the government had procured the vaccines in the first and second phases of the vaccination drive for healthcare and frontline workers.

The central government has identified 12 hospitals in Telangana for the COVID19 vaccination.