India will relinquish its 10% right to imported COVID-19 vaccines, a senior government official told Reuters on Monday as he tried to bolster supplies to counter a dramatic increase in coronavirus cases.
Imports of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine will soon arrive and the government has also requested Pfizer (PFE.N), Moderna (MRNA.O) and Johnson and Johnson (JNJ.N) to sell their products to India.
The official, who did not want to be named, also said the government was considering allowing private institutions to import approved vaccines for sale on the open market without government intervention. They can also be given the freedom to set prices, he added.
The Indian government is currently regulating the sale and purchase of all COVID-19 shots in the country.
A Finance Ministry spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside of office hours.
Other South Asian countries, including Nepal and Pakistan, as well as Latin American countries such as Argentina and Brazil charge vaccine rates ranging between 10% and 20%.
New COVID-19 infections and deaths in India have risen by a record number for days, with hospitals lacking beds, oxygen and essential medicines. The total death toll rose to nearly 179,000 and cases climbed to above 15 million, the world’s second highest score behind the United States. read more
The government has now decided to open vaccinations for all adults from 1 May.
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