Sputnik V vax to be rolled out at ` 1,195 in Apollo hospitals

NEW DELHI: Apollo Group of Hospitals has announced it will start administering the Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V, across its hospitals in India from the second week of June, at an estimated price of Rs1,195 per dose.

“We will be charging Rs995 for the vaccine and Rs200 would be administration charges,” an official said.

In a statement, Executive Vice-chairperson Shobana Kamineni of the Apollo Group of Hospitals said the group has completed administering 1 million vaccine doses across 80 locations in India, and will prioritise frontline workers, high-risk population, and corporate employees. ‘

This

is big racket. At govt centres where vaccination was given free to the youth, vaccines are in shortage there, while vaccinations are going on at higher prices at hospitals. Many vaccines are being approved across the world. Pfizer vaccine has been approved in 85 countries, Moderna in 46 countries and J&J is approved in 41 countries. Then why these 3 vaccines were not given emergency authorisation. If WHO can approve them, why can’t India? This clearly shows the Centre has created this artificial scarcity to favour SII and Bharat Biotech. The Centre created such an artificial scarcity states have to buy from them only. The Centre should respond to this.

— ATISHI, AAP leader ‘Digital divide there, but incorrect to say villages are left out’ NEW DELHI: Rural India is badly hit by the second surge, most villages lack infrastructure, internet technology, so it is an uphill battle for less techy-savvy villagers to register and use Cowin app for vaccinations. However, National Health Authority CEO and CoWIN chief agrees there is a digital divide but he says it is incorrect to say villages are left out. He adds it’s not urban elites alone who got over 20 crore doses of vaccine. RS Sharma said primary health centres, district collectors and officers have been briefed to create awareness among the rural masses.