The COVID-19 vaccines to foreign countries are not being sent at the expense of Indian citizens, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The minister informed that around 5.94 crore doses of vaccine have been sent to 72 countries so far.
"The vaccine provided to Indians is also being sent to foreign countries, but it is in no way being sent at the expense of people of India," he said.
The minister said that the external supplies are being undertaken with due regard to domestic production. On Monday alone, 30 lakh people were vaccinated in India against COVID-19.
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“Vaccine is free in all government hospitals. Private hospitals can only charge ₹250. ₹100 has been fixed for hospital arrangements,” Vardhan said, adding that even today among the priority groups if anyone who wants a vaccine can register on COWIN portal and get vaccinated.
"Science is global. The technology could be local but the benefit should be shared with all,” he said.
Replying to a question on whether the process of vaccination is going at a very slow pace, Vardhan said, "The current rate of COVID-19 vaccination is satisfactory and is being further increased through increase in number of COVID-19 Vaccination Centres (CVCs) in both government and private health facilities."
The health ministry has said that keeping in view the domestic requirements of the phased rollout, India will continue to supply COVID-19 vaccines to partner countries over the coming weeks and months in a phased manner.
Meanwhile, the total vaccination coverage in India has crossed 3.29 crore while the coverage of beneficiaries aged over 60 years has crossed 1 crore in just 15 days.