Announcement of new vaccination policy: States will now get 75% of the vaccine from the center instead of 50%, but if the wastage is high, the supply will be affected.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Monday that from June 21, those above the age of 18 will also get the benefit of the free vaccine. A day after the Prime Minister's announcement, that is, on Tuesday, the Ministry of Health has issued new guidelines for the vaccination program. These will come into effect from June 21.

According to the new guidelines, the central government will buy 75% of the vaccine from vaccine manufacturers and give it to the states free of cost. But the states will have to avoid wastage, otherwise, the supply to them will be affected. It has also been said that the price of vaccines for private hospitals will be declared by the manufacturing companies only.

As many doses of vaccine will be given to the states from the Centre. In them, the states have to decide the priority. Healthcare workers will be at the top of this priority. After this, priority will be given to people above 45 years of age and then to those people whose second dose is left. After this, the number of people above 18 years of age will come. For their vaccination, the state government will be able to decide the priority according to its own.

These things are also included in the new guidelines

The central government will send doses to the states based on parameters like their population, number of infected, and progress of vaccination. States will have to take care of wastage, otherwise, the supply of vaccines to them will be affected.

The central government will tell the states in advance how many doses they are going to get. Accordingly, the state governments will also allot doses to their districts and vaccination centers in advance. This information will be made public by the districts and vaccination centers so that people do not face any problems.

The government will help private hospitals located in small towns and remote areas increase vaccine supply, to eliminate the geographical disparity.

State governments will prepare a roadmap for the vaccine demand of such small hospitals and the central government will help in supplying vaccines to such hospitals. For this, both the levels will have to work together.

Everyone will get the vaccine, no one's economic level will be seen in it. But the government has said as an appeal that those who can pay, should get the vaccine by paying money in private hospitals.

E-vouchers will be issued to the poor to get free vaccines in private hospitals. These will be nontransferable. That is, the voucher can be used only by the person in whose name it will be issued.

what happened now, what will happen next

Central Government: 50% of the doses it used to buy were given free to the states for priority groups and 45+ age groups. Now free supply will be increased from 50% to 75%. The age group of 18-44 years will also be included in this.

States: Till May 1, states were required to buy 25% of the dosage from the market for people in the age group of 18-44 years. Now the state government will not buy it, but will only use the dose received from the center.

45+ age group: Free vaccine will continue to benefit the most, but private hospitals will have to pay as before.

18-44 years old: From June 21, the free vaccine will be available at government centers, but will have to be paid for in private hospitals.

Private Hospitals: Can deal with the central government as well as vaccine manufacturers. 150 can be charged for applying the vaccine.