New Delhi: The government has allocated RS 5,000 Crore in the next fiscal only for covid vaccination of the age group 15-17 years and the prudential dosage for senior citizens, Financial Secretary T v Somandang said, emphasizing more money will be allocated as needed.
The government in the last budget has provided Rs 35,000 Crore against Covid Vaccination for Fiscal 2021-22.
This number has increased to RS 39,000 Crore in revised estimates.
Asked about the reason for reducing spending for 2022-23 fiscal, Somanathan explained that while expenditure in the final budget was to vaccinate the population of a full adult, the next fiscal allocation needs to be seen in the context of ‘caution doses’ and Jabs for children in the age group 15-17 years.
“Last year this provision was for two doses of vaccination for 100 percent of the adult population.
The allocation was made based on a growing health policy.
At present health policy is a booster for certain segments – frontline, 60 years and vaccination for 15 years -17 years.
That number It has been fulfilled.
RS 5,000 Crore has been intended, “he told PTI.
The Nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive began on January 16, 2021.
The new phase of the Covid-19 vaccination was started from June 21, 2021.
As part of a national vaccination drive, the Government of India has supported the state and UTS by giving them free Covid vaccines.
More than 75 percent of the country’s adult population is now fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
More than 164.36 Crore vaccine doses have been given to the state and the United States as part of the national Covid-19 vaccination drive.
Vaccination for children from the age group 15-17 has begun from January 3, while the prudential dosage ‘for the top 60 years starting from January 10.
Somanathan further said: “Because the policy evolved, the budget will occur.
But the budget is not will take place ahead of the policy “.
Secretary said there had been an increase in health expenditure for the next fiscal to 83,000 crore.
In this current fiscal, RS 82,921 Crore has been pegged in revised estimates (returns), up from and RS 71,269 Crore in budget estimates.
Also expenditure for health research has also increased to RS 3,201 Crore in the next fiscal, from Rs 3,080 Crore in returning fiscal at this time.