Misleading: All of the 100 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India were given for free.

By: Ankita Kulkarni
October 27 2021

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The 100 crore vaccine doses include those rolled out by private centers, which were not free.India achieved a milestone as it collectively administered 100 crore COVID-19 vaccines throughout the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the nation, said that all the 100 crore doses of vaccines were provided for free to the citizens. While it is true that every citizen can now get the jab for free, it was not the case before. In March, the government had allowed private hospitals to procure 25 percent of the total vaccines directly from manufacturers and administer them for a fee. In a response given by the Union Ministry of Health in the Rajya Sabha on July 20, roughly 7 percent of the COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered in private health centers between May 1 and July 15. Later it was announced that the central government would provide free vaccination for all starting from June 21 and allowed private sector hospitals to continue to procure the vaccines like before. The private clinics were allowed to charge Rs. 150 as a service charge. Although the government has boosted free vaccinations by providing them for free, private centers still charge to administer the vaccines. The 100 crore figure includes doses that were given in exchange for a fee, and hence we mark the claim as misleading.