Sonia Gandhi writes to PM: Seeks uniform price for Covid-19 vaccines

Congress president Sonia Gandhi wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, asking how “the Government of India can permit such brazen profiteering from people’s misery?”, a day after Serum Institute of India released its differential Covid-19 vaccine’s price list for the Centre, states and private hospital.

Gandhi demanded a re-evaluation of the Centre’s modified vaccination policy and a uniform price for vaccines.

After many states asked the Union government to decentralise the vaccination process and lift the age cap to allow them to inoculate more people, the Centre announced all adults will be eligible for vaccine and doses can be sold via the market from May 1.

The decision, taken during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, makes India one of the first countries to allow all adults to get the vaccine, although people under the age of 45 will only be able to receive doses once private sales begin or if state governments procure stocks for distribution to these age groups.