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Vaccination

India Spends Over Rs.9,500 Crore on Covid-19 Vaccines

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As of the latest numbers, the Indian government has spent a staggering Rs.9,553.25 crore on purchasing over 1.091 billion vaccine doses, with the majority being Covishield. The funds were released from the Rs.35,000 crore Covid-19 vaccination budget, with Rs.8,067.75 crore being allocated for 1.025 billion doses of various vaccines, including Covishield and Covaxin. A significant portion of the spending, Rs.4,488.75 crore, went towards purchasing 285 million doses of Covishield and Covaxin, at Rs.157.5 a dose. The government has also made advance payments of Rs.2,079 crore and Rs.1,500 crore towards the procurement of additional doses.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Indian government has spent a total of Rs.9,553.25 crore on purchasing over 1.091 billion vaccine doses, making it one of the largest vaccine drives in the country's history.
  • The majority of the doses, over 1.025 billion, were allocated for the procurement of Covishield and Covaxin, with a significant portion being Rns.4,488.75 crore.
  • The government made an advance payment of Rs.2,079 crore towards the procurement of 440 million additional doses of Covishield and Covaxin, accounting for 30% of the total cost.
  • An additional Rs.1,500 crore was paid as an advance towards the procurement of 300 million doses of a vaccine being developed by Biological E.
  • The government has placed orders for a total of 1.44 billion doses of Covishield and Covaxin, with the first order being placed by the PM Cares Fund for 56 million Covishield doses and 10 million Covaxin doses.
  • The vaccine drive has involved multiple orders, including a deal signed on June 6 for the procurement of 300 million doses from Biological E, and another deal signed on June 7 for the procurement of 440 million doses from Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech.

Statistics:

  • Total amount spent on Covid-19 vaccines: Rs.9,553.25 crore
  • Total number of vaccine doses purchased: 1.091 billion
  • Amount spent on Covishield and Covaxin: Rs.4,488.75 crore
  • Amount of advance payment made towards procurement of additional doses: Rs.2,079 crore
  • Amount of advance payment made towards procurement of Biological E's vaccine: Rs.1,500 crore
  • Number of Covishield doses purchased: 760 million
  • Number of Covaxin doses purchased: 321 million
  • Number of doses of Biological E's vaccine purchased: 300 million

Sources:

  • RTI application filed by Commodore Lokesh Batra (retd)
  • Response to RTI application from the Covid-19 vaccine administration cell under the health ministry
  • Press Information Bureau, Government of India's website (www.pib.gov.in)
  • Hindustan Times article published on June 12.

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