Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding a meeting with the vaccine manufacturers on Tuesday to ensure that there are no shortfalls as all Indian citizens about the age of 18 are now eligible for the jabs.

“This will lead to a huge increase in demand for vaccines and there needs to be a proper plan in place,” a source said. Until now India has managed to vaccinate over 120 million people.

According to IANS, representatives of top drug makers from India and abroad, including companies whose vaccines have been approved by the government will also attend the meeting.

In tune with anticipated surge in demand the government has decided to waive 10% custom duty on the imports of the Covid19 vaccines in anticipation of purchases from Russia of the Sputnik V vaccine. Also, the government has tapped Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson to sell their products to India. 

Reuters quoting an official is reporting that New Delhi is considering granting permission to private entities to import approved vaccines for sale in the open market, without intervention by the government.

The Indian government currently regulates the sale and purchase of all Covid-19 shots in the country. Liberalising it would augment vaccine production and availability, and attract new domestic and international vaccine manufacturers, the government said in its statement. “It would also make pricing, procurement, eligibility and administration of vaccines open and flexible, allowing all stakeholders the flexibility to customise to local needs and dynamics,” it said.

India has already vaccinated nearly 123.9 million people, only behind the United States and China. But with the case-load surging to a record 273,810 on Monday, catering for jabs at a mammoth scale remains a herculean task.