Call for free vaccination for all gaining ground

Pricing the vaccine will cut access for many, including urban poor and rural population: activists

Not everyone can afford to pay for the COVID-19 vaccine. Hence, a demand for making the vaccine free for all has gained momentum, with social and health activists pointing out that offering the vaccine at a cost in the private sector will reduce access for many, including the urban poor and the rural population. When the emphasis is on vaccinating more people, pricing the vaccines, especially for the 18-44 age group, could have a huge bearing on different sections. With the vaccines priced at ₹900-₹1,200 in the private sector, affordability is a key factor that may keep many away, a section of activists says. G.R. Ravindranath, general secretary of the Doctors Association for Social Equality, says the lockdown led to economic constraints and unemployment for many, with middle-class families being one of the worst affected. “If a family has five to six members, not everyone can get vaccinated owing to the affordability factor. As such, awareness is key to getting vaccinated, but not much awareness has reached rural areas. Similarly, the urban poor will not pay for vaccination as they have already been hit financially,” he said.