11 million doses ordered, dispatch begins

New Delhi, January 11

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The Union Government on Monday placed a purchase order with Serum Institute of India (SII) for 11 million doses of Covishield, each costing Rs 210, including Rs 10 as GST.

Sources said transportation of the vaccine began late this evening. The Health Ministry would soon place order for Covaxin, which is indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech, they said.

• Vax to cost Rs200
• 3 cr to get shots in Ph-1
• Centre to bear expenses for round 1
• Politicians not in priority group

Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi today said the Centre would bear the cost of inoculating three crore frontline warriors in the first phase.

Addressing CMs virtually ahead of the January 16 vaccine rollout, the PM said public representatives were not part of the priority group in the first round of inoculations.

“Government and private health workers, personnel of the armed forces, paramilitary, disaster management, civil defence and surveillance teams will be covered in the first phase,” he said. — TNS/PTI