BHOPAL: Barely 1% of people have ‘paid’ out of their pockets for vaccine to protect against Covid-19 in Bhopal. Paid vaccine jabs have been optional for general public since March.
“There was a good rush during for the ‘paid’ first dose with over 400 people queuing each day for the vaccine. Gradually since July, the numbers have dropped. As for people seeking first dose, the ones who are left are hesitant due to lack of education and other apprehensions,” said Hajela hospital director, Dr Anoop Hajela.
“Unvaccinated population may provide to be a trigger for next wave or mutation,” warned Dr Hajela, whose hospital has vaccinated around 10,000 people.
With demand and supply for getting second dose getting wide, some medical experts expect paid vaccine might preference. The other element is a very efficient free public healthcare network. For every paid vaccine centre, there are 230 free vaccination sites operated across Bhopal.
Around a dozen hospitals have forayed to tap into paid vaccination. Currently Covidsheild vaccine costs about Rs 780 per dose, conventional adenoviral vector-based vaccine Sputnik costs Rs 1145 per dose. For the latter each dose comes in separate vial and stored at minus 18 degree Celsius.
