During phase-II of vaccination drive beginning from March 1

Eligible Covid-19 vaccine aspirants in the country will have to shell out Rs 250 per shot — Rs 150 cost of vaccine plus Rs 100 service charge — if they opt to get themselves inoculated at the designated private hospitals during the second phase of the vaccination drive beginning March 1 to cover people aged above 60 years and those over 45 with comorbidities.

However, the Government hospitals will be providing the jab free, the cost to be borne by the Centre. “The private hospitals can charge up to Rs 250 per dose of Covid-19 vaccine. However, the jab will be given free of cost at Government hospitals across the States. The cost will be borne by the Centre,” said Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan in a statement here.

“Rs 250 will be the ceiling — Rs 150 cost of vaccine plus Rs 100 service charge. This arrangement will remain effective till further orders,” Bhushan said in a statement here following an interaction with Health Secretaries and MDs (NHM) of States and UTs on the vaccination of age-appropriate groups through a video conference (VC) on Saturday.

“There would be Government health facilities which will be used as Covid vaccine centres such as medical college hospitals, district hospitals, sub divisional hospitals, CHCs, PHCs, Health Sub Centres and Health and Wellness Centres. Geo reference maps with GPS coordinates of all these health facilities have been prepared that will serve as CVCs and these Geo referenced maps are being shared with the States,” a senior health official added.

To ramp up the Covid vaccination capacity manifold, significantly a large number of private facilities are being involved. “Around 10,000 private hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY, over 600 hospitals empanelled under CGHS and other private hospitals empanelled under State Governments.

“Health Insurance Schemes can participate as 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. A list of all these private hospitals has been uploaded on the website of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and National Health Authority,” said the official.

So far, 77 per cent of healthcare workers have been administered with the first dose and 70 per cent got the second dose, the official added.

All the private health facilities which will serve as Government Covid Vaccination Centres has also been asked to strictly follow norms of due process, quality and safety including integration with the National Co-Win technology platform.

“All private health facilities must also have adequate space, adequate cold chain arrangements, adequate number of vaccinators and support staff and adequate arrangements for addressing Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI),” said the official.