A post accompanying an image showing a price list of COVID-19 vaccine in US, UK and India is being widely shared across social media platforms with a claim that in India, the vaccine is free of cost whereas other countries are charging for the vaccine. Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: India is providing COVID-19 vaccine free of cost, whereas US & UK are charging Rs. 5000 and Rs. 3000 per dose.
Fact: Even the US and UK are inoculating their citizens with COVID-19 vaccine free of cost. The governments of these nations are paying for the vaccine manufacturing companies, though the respective government programs. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
USA:
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people are going to be vaccinated free of cost. Further, the administration fee charged by the vaccination providers will be reimbursed by the patient’s public or private insurance company, and for uninsured 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.
Even according to the information provided on the health department websites of few states like Washington, California and Alaska it is categorically mentioned that the vaccine will be provided free of cost to people.
The vaccine manufacturing companies would be paid by the government. According to a news article, the vaccine which is being developed by the Oxford-AstraZeneca is charged at $4 per dose whereas the vaccine which is being developed by Moderna is pegged at $ 33 per dose.
UK:
UK government which is the signatory of the COVAX facility would buy the vaccine from the vaccine candidates as per the agreement. According to official government sources, the UK government will inoculate people with COVID-19 vaccine through the National Health Service (NHS) for free.
INDIA:
India’s Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on 02 January 2021 has announced a formal approval for restricted use in emergency situations of COVID-19 vaccines developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotech. Union Health Minister speaking to media made it clear that the inoculation would be free of cost. Also, several states have announced that they would provide free vaccine in their states.
The government buys vaccine from the manufacturing companies. According to a news article, the government is yet to sign a pricing deal with AstraZeneca. As reported in the article, the first 100 million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by SII is expected to be priced at Rs. 200 per dose for the government. And according to another news article, Bharat Biotech would price the vaccine at Rs. 350, however Bharat Biotech hasn’t officially announced the price.
As most of the countries are gearing up to vaccinate their citizens with COVID-19 vaccine, posts like these are being shared on social media with misleading claims.
To sum it up, even US and UK is providing free vaccine to their citizens. The governments of these nations are paying for the vaccine manufacturing companies, and are not passing this cost onto their citizens.
