The court asked the government then why it cannot buy 100% of the vaccines at a discount instead of leaving the States to fend for themselves. Also read | Paid vaccination policy for 18-44 age group prima facie arbitrary, says Supreme CourtThe Centre can buy vaccines for ₹150, while the States have to shell out between ₹300 and ₹600. It said the Centre, with a ₹35,000-crore budget to buy vaccines, has money to spare, unlike the States which have suddenly been burdened with the task to cough up funds for vaccines. Also read | On CoWIN, Supreme Court flags digital divide“The Union Budget for 2021-2022 earmarked ₹35,000 crore for procuring vaccines. The Centre’s liberalised vaccination policy gives it only a 50% role to purchase COVID-19 vaccines.

Source: The Hindu June 02, 2021 17:24 UTC