Where will marginalised find money to buy vaccine? SC judge asks Centre over pricing issue

The Supreme Court on Friday raised concerns over the Centre's new vaccine policy and said the government should adopt a national immunization model as poor people will not be able to pay for Covid vaccines.

Amid row over the Centre's new vaccine policy, the Supreme Court bench on Friday said the Union government should adopt a national immunization model as poor people will not be able to pay for Covid vaccines. Hearing cases in connection with the persisting Covid-19 situation in the country, Justice DY Chandrachud said the "pricing issue is extraordinarily serious". "Today, you say 50 per cent [of vaccines] provided to the Centre will be used to vaccinate frontline workers and all those over 45 years of age. The remaining 50 per cent will be used by states. As many as 59.46 crore Indians are under 45 years and many of them belong to the poor and marginalised category. Where will they find money to buy vaccine?" Justice DY Chandrachud asked.