New Vaccine Plan To Cost Rs 50,000 Crore, Say Finance Ministry Sources

"We don't need to go for the supplementary grants immediately as there are enough funds. We may have to go for this in the second round, near the winter session of Parliament. At present we have the money," Finance Ministry sources said.

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Centre is taking back vaccine-buying from states, the finance ministry said the programme will cost around Rs 50,000 crore and the government has the money. "We don't need to go for the supplementary grants immediately as there are enough funds. We may have to go for this in the second round, near the winter session of Parliament. At present we have the money," Finance Ministry sources said. The sources also indicated that the government is no longer counting on foreign vaccines to meet its vaccine needs. The US, Pfizer and Moderna are "only making pretense" of interest, said officials. "Our programme of procurement is centred around Bharat Biotech, Serum Institute and the new Bio-E; we will be able to supply vaccines for the substantial population from these vaccines," sources said.