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Phase 3 of vaccination is going to be started on May 1 and this time the vaccination drive will be different. The CoWin registration for the eligible people from May 1 has been made mandatory and walk registration will not be allowed. The state and private hospitals will also be allowed to procure the vaccine directly from the manufacturing companies. In the earlier two phases, the central government procured the vaccines from these companies. Now 50% of vaccines will be allowed to sell to state and private hospitals.
The price for Covishield was announced this week earlier which is Rs 400 for state and Rs 600 for private hospitals. Today, Bharat Biotech also has announced the price of Covaxin which is put at Rs 600 for states and Rs 1200 for private hospitals. Where the cost of the vaccine for the central government is very much low. This difference in prices of vaccines has attracted criticism of this policy.
This cost of price is for the people between 18 and 45 whereas the vaccination will continue as before for the people eligible in earlier phases. All vaccination will be free in the central government hospital and in state government hospitals, the price of vaccines may be subsidized. Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu have announced free vaccination. Cost in the private hospital may vary due to charges for services