Cost of vaccinating Indians above 18 years less than 1% of annual GDP, claims study

The study conducted by India Ratings has come out at a time when the Centre and states are engaged in an argument over the pricing difference of Covid-19 vaccines. The study has estimated the cost of vaccinating all Indians above the age of 18 years at just 0.36 per cent of India's annual GDP.

A study has claimed that the cost of vaccinating all Indians above the age of 18 years against Covid-19 will cost less than one per cent of the country’s annual GDP. The estimate has been released at a time when the Centre and states are engaged in an argument over the pricing difference of Covid-19 vaccines. However, if the Centre and states collaborate to vaccinate all Indians aged above 18 years — estimated at 84.2 crore out of 133 crore — it would cost Rs 671.93 billion. The Indian Ratings study estimates the cost of inoculating 84 crore people will cost the central government Rs 208.70 billion, while state governments will have to spend a combined amount of Rs 463.23 billion.