Centralise vaccine buys to minimise costs: EY India

‘Allow States to prioritize areas, ages for vaccination in their jurisdiction’

India’s vaccination bill can be minimised by following a fully centralised procurement model that would reduce prices rather than States pursuing purchases on their own, EY India said in a report on Thursday, calling for an urgent recast of the ‘current ad hoc and non-transparent vaccination distribution strategy’. If the country maintained the vaccination rate of 2.31 million doses per day recorded over March and April, with the current interstate distribution pattern, it would result into a hopeless situation, the report noted, adding that the pace of vaccinations had already fallen further in May. “At an all-India level, it would require 748 days to achieve full coverage of the population of 18 years and above (eligible population). But, in terms of coverage of individual states, some States would require far too many days. For example, Uttar Pradesh may require 1,553 days, while Bihar may require 1,351 days and Tamil Nadu may require 1,217 days,” the report said.