New Delhi: The Union Government has submitted before the Supreme Court that the price factor of Covid vaccines will not impact the beneficiary as the state governments have decided to administer vaccination for free.
The Supreme Court’s contention was that the vaccination policy was not in the spirit of conforming to the mandate of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
Centre has said that all citizens of all age groups will get free vaccination throughout the country, as all State Governments have announced free vaccination.
The Central Government has stated that it has ensured that the prices of vaccine is uniform for all the States, by conducting informal consultations consultations with the vaccine manufacturers, to avoid any disparity resulting from one State ending up buying vaccine at a higher price than the other.
According to the Centre, both vaccine manufacturers have taken financial risk in developing and manufacturing these vaccines and it is therefore prudent to take decisions on pricing through negotiations in a transparent consultative process keeping statutory provisions as a last resort under the present circumstances.
The Centre has also informed the Court that, due to consultations and “persuasion” by the Central Government both the manufacturers of vaccine, Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute, have declared their respective prices which are uniform for all State Governments.
It is pertinent to note that the Central Government by nature of its large vaccination programme, places large purchase orders for vaccines as opposed o the State Governments and/or Private Hospitals and therefore, this reality has some reflection in the prices negotiated.” the affidavit reads.
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