India will waive its 10% tariffs on imported COVID-19 vaccines, a senior government official told Reuters on Monday, trying to increase supplies to counter the dramatic rise in coronavirus cases.
Imports of Russian Sputnik V vaccine are due to arrive soon and the government has also urged Pfizer (PFE.N), Moderna (MRNA.O) and Johnson and Johnson (JNJ.N) to sell their products to India. .
The official, who refused to be appointed, also said the government was considering allowing private entities to import approved vaccines for sale on the open market without government intervention. They could also be given the freedom to set prices, he added.
Currently, the Indian government regulates the sale and purchase of all COVID-19 shots in the country.
A finance ministry spokesman did not immediately respond to an email seeking comments outside of business hours.
Other South Asian countries, including Nepal and Pakistan, as well as Latin American countries such as Argentina and Brazil, require vaccine import tariffs ranging from 10% to 20%.
New COVID-19 infections and deaths in India have risen in record numbers for days, with hospitals without beds, oxygen and key medicines. Total deaths have risen to nearly 179,000 and cases have risen to over 15 million, the second highest in the world behind the United States. Read more
Now the government has decided to open vaccines for all adults from May 1st.
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