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India Covid: What are the claims around the 'free vaccine' policy? | India Covid: What are the claims around the 'free vaccine' policy? |
(32 minutes later) | |
Citizens of the city of Kolkata being vaccinated | Citizens of the city of Kolkata being vaccinated |
India has announced a record eight million jabs on the first day of a new vaccination push, the highest number it's done so far. | India has announced a record eight million jabs on the first day of a new vaccination push, the highest number it's done so far. |
Under a newly-introduced policy, the federal government now buys Covid-19 jabs directly from manufacturers and supplies them to the state authorities. | Under a newly-introduced policy, the federal government now buys Covid-19 jabs directly from manufacturers and supplies them to the state authorities. |
India is one of the largest vaccine makers in the world. | India is one of the largest vaccine makers in the world. |
But its own vaccination drive has been moving at a slow pace with just over 5% of the population fully vaccinated. | But its own vaccination drive has been moving at a slow pace with just over 5% of the population fully vaccinated. |
Is this a world record for one day? | Is this a world record for one day? |
On the first day of the new policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the pace of India's vaccine programme. | On the first day of the new policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the pace of India's vaccine programme. |
Mr Modi had announced earlier this month that everyone would get "free vaccines" from 21 June. | Mr Modi had announced earlier this month that everyone would get "free vaccines" from 21 June. |
Today’s record-breaking vaccination numbers are gladdening. The vaccine remains our strongest weapon to fight COVID-19. Congratulations to those who got vaccinated and kudos to all the front-line warriors working hard to ensure so many citizens got the vaccine. Well done India! | Today’s record-breaking vaccination numbers are gladdening. The vaccine remains our strongest weapon to fight COVID-19. Congratulations to those who got vaccinated and kudos to all the front-line warriors working hard to ensure so many citizens got the vaccine. Well done India! |
Health Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan, tweeted that the eight million jabs was the highest number of doses administered in a single day globally. | Health Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan, tweeted that the eight million jabs was the highest number of doses administered in a single day globally. |
But that's not correct as China holds the record for administering the highest number of doses in a single day, going by figures compiled by Our World in Data. | But that's not correct as China holds the record for administering the highest number of doses in a single day, going by figures compiled by Our World in Data. |
It gave out 20.8 million doses on 21 June, and has also been ramping up its vaccination programme. | It gave out 20.8 million doses on 21 June, and has also been ramping up its vaccination programme. |
However, it was a single day record for India, leading some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politicians to praise the move by the federal government to take over the vaccination drive. | However, it was a single day record for India, leading some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politicians to praise the move by the federal government to take over the vaccination drive. |
Under the leadership of PM @NarendraModi ji, India clocked its highest ever vaccination numbers by administering over 85 lakh vaccine doses in a single day. This has been driven by the efficient model of centralised vaccination along with ground level efforts by state Govts. pic.twitter.com/xNOWz8V1ha | Under the leadership of PM @NarendraModi ji, India clocked its highest ever vaccination numbers by administering over 85 lakh vaccine doses in a single day. This has been driven by the efficient model of centralised vaccination along with ground level efforts by state Govts. pic.twitter.com/xNOWz8V1ha |
The total number of vaccines administered rose by over 90% on 21 June, compared with the previous day. | The total number of vaccines administered rose by over 90% on 21 June, compared with the previous day. |
But it is worth noting that vaccine doses administered in some states had dropped noticeably in the days leading up to 21 June. | But it is worth noting that vaccine doses administered in some states had dropped noticeably in the days leading up to 21 June. |
In Madhya Pradesh, the numbers dropped significantly by 82% from 13-16 June and 17-20 June. | In Madhya Pradesh, the numbers dropped significantly by 82% from 13-16 June and 17-20 June. |
In Haryana, vaccine administration dropped by 22% between 15-17 June and 18-20 June before it achieved the highest single-day record. | In Haryana, vaccine administration dropped by 22% between 15-17 June and 18-20 June before it achieved the highest single-day record. |
Numbers dropped on the previous day in other states as well - something that is usually seen on Sundays. | Numbers dropped on the previous day in other states as well - something that is usually seen on Sundays. |
And It was significantly lower than usual in Gujarat and Assam states. | And It was significantly lower than usual in Gujarat and Assam states. |
India has administered over 276 million vaccine doses since January, that's less than 30% of the eligible adult population. | India has administered over 276 million vaccine doses since January, that's less than 30% of the eligible adult population. |
India's adult population is estimated as being around 950 million. | India's adult population is estimated as being around 950 million. |
India's vaccine drive picked up pace in early April, with 3.66 million doses administered on 10 April, the highest figure achieved by that date. | India's vaccine drive picked up pace in early April, with 3.66 million doses administered on 10 April, the highest figure achieved by that date. |
But it fell by nearly half in mid-May and several states suspended vaccinations for the 18-44 age group due to shortages. | But it fell by nearly half in mid-May and several states suspended vaccinations for the 18-44 age group due to shortages. |
Experts say that India had failed to order enough vaccines last year to avoid shortages. | Experts say that India had failed to order enough vaccines last year to avoid shortages. |
What has the new policy changed? | What has the new policy changed? |
The federal government now buys 75% of all vaccines manufactured. | The federal government now buys 75% of all vaccines manufactured. |
And state governments get their vaccines doses for free from the federal government, rather than buying from the manufacturers. | |
How India's vaccine drive went horribly wrong | How India's vaccine drive went horribly wrong |
What do we know about India's new vaccines? | What do we know about India's new vaccines? |
The successes and failures of India's vaccine drive | The successes and failures of India's vaccine drive |
However, it's worth noting that the remaining 25% of vaccines are still set aside for procurement by private hospitals as before. | However, it's worth noting that the remaining 25% of vaccines are still set aside for procurement by private hospitals as before. |
These vaccinations are not free - and have to be paid for at private hospitals. | These vaccinations are not free - and have to be paid for at private hospitals. |
Prices have been fixed at 780 rupees ($10.7; £7.5) for Covishield, 1,145 rupees ($15.7; £11) for Sputnik V, and 1,410 rupees ($19.3; £13.6) for Covaxin. | |
Prime Minister Modi made a national TV address on the vaccination programme (file photo) | Prime Minister Modi made a national TV address on the vaccination programme (file photo) |
Under the previous Covid vaccine policy, only half of all vaccines produced in India went to the federal government - 25% went to state administrations and 25% to private hospitals. | |
The states competed in the open market to buy vaccines doses for the general population in the 18-44 age group, which were then given out free at state vaccination centres. | |
Meanwhile, the federal government was responsible for vaccinating all frontline workers and those aged above 45 years - also for free. | |
The federal government will now take over procuring all vaccines (apart from the 25% allocated to private clinics), based on the population of individual states, the level of disease, vaccination progress and vaccine wastage. | |
The announcement happened just days after the previous policy attracted criticism from India's top court, which called it "arbitrary" and "irrational". | The announcement happened just days after the previous policy attracted criticism from India's top court, which called it "arbitrary" and "irrational". |
It questioned the rationale behind making states pay more for vaccines than the federal government had to. | It questioned the rationale behind making states pay more for vaccines than the federal government had to. |
"This is a step in the right direction and will streamline some procurement-related challenges," says health policy expert Dr Chandrakant Lahariya. | "This is a step in the right direction and will streamline some procurement-related challenges," says health policy expert Dr Chandrakant Lahariya. |
But he adds that it doesn't change much for ordinary citizens as vaccines were already free of charge. | |
Can India get all adults vaccinated this year? | Can India get all adults vaccinated this year? |
The new policy is in fact similar to what India did when it began its vaccine rollout in January this year. | The new policy is in fact similar to what India did when it began its vaccine rollout in January this year. |
This was even acknowledged by Mr Modi himself, who said "the old system, in place before 1 May, will be implemented again." | This was even acknowledged by Mr Modi himself, who said "the old system, in place before 1 May, will be implemented again." |
The idea is that with states no longer needing to buy vaccines directly, they will not end up competing against each for a limited supply (which disadvantaged those states with fewer financial resources.) | |
Read more from Reality Check | Read more from Reality Check |
Send us your questions | Send us your questions |