A post enumerating COVID-19 vaccine prices in different countries is being shared on social media platforms. Through this article let’s fact-check the veracity of these rates.
Claim: Price of COVID-19 vaccine in different countries.
Fact: Governments of the countries mentioned in the post are making the COVID-19 vaccine available to their citizens free of cost. Even the Indian government is providing its citizens COVID-19 vaccine free of cost in public healthcare facilities. According to the latest press release, vaccination is free of charge at govt health facilities, whereas private health facilities may recover a charge subject to a ceiling of Rs. 250 per person per dose. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
US:
As per a press release by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services dated 11 February 2021 regarding the Biden administration’s purchase of additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, it is categorically mentioned that the vaccines will be at no cost. Whereas ‘Vaccine administration costs for private-sector administration partners are being covered by healthcare payers: private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, and an HHS program to cover COVID-19 costs for the uninsured which is reimbursing providers at Medicare rates from the Provider Relief Fund’.
Even as per the updated information on CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the federal government is providing the vaccine free of charge to all those living in the United States. It is also reiterated that ‘vaccination providers will be reimbursed for vaccine administration fees by the patient’s public or private insurance company or, for uninsured patients, by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund’. Even the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was passed in March 2020 in this regard says the same.
Europe:
According to the latest information available on the European Commission website, a large majority of the member states are intending to offer vaccination free of charge.
China:
As per the information available on China’s National Health Commission, COVID-19 vaccines will be provided free of charge to all Chinese people.
INDIA:
As per the latest CO-WIN 2.0 guidance note released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, vaccination is free of charge at govt health facilities, whereas private health facilities charge for vaccination at a rate decided by the GoI from time to time.
According to a press release by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reported by PIB,‘ Private Hospitals functioning as CVCs may recover a charge subject to a ceiling of Rs. 250 per person per dose’.
Brazil, Russia & Saudi Arabia
Multiple news agencies have reported that even Brazil, Russia & Saudi Arabia governments are providing free vaccines to their citizens.
Although vaccine producers are selling vaccines at different prices per dose in different countries, most of the countries are making vaccines available free of cost to their citizens.
In view of the central government’s decision to expand the COVID-19 vaccination program to all citizens above 60 years of age and those within the age bracket of 45 to 59 years with specified co-morbidities, posts like these are being shared with misleading claims.
To sum it up, all the nations mentioned in the post are providing COVID-19 vaccine free of charge to their citizens.
