As vaccination campaigns are being rolled out globally, employers have a central role to play in the drive to persuade people to get vaccinated. In India, digital services consulting Infosys Ltd and Accenture Plc recently announced that they would cover Covid-19 vaccination costs for their employees.
The country has begun to expand its massive vaccination drive on 1 March, with people above the age of 60, and individuals 45 or older suffering from certain medical conditions, now eligible for shots. The government has made vaccines distributed at government health facilities free, while private facilities cannot charge more than 250 rupees (US$3.43) per dose.
In a statement, Chief Operating Officer Pravin Rao said that Infosys is looking at partnering with health care providers to vaccinate employees and their immediate families as eligible. Meanwhile, Accenture said it will cover the costs for employees and dependents who are eligible and choose to receive the vaccination, Hindustan Times reports.
So far, the federal government has procured the two Covid-19 vaccines approved in India – AstraZeneca’s shot being developed by the Serum Institute, and local player Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin- at fixed prices and distributed them free of cost.
Several Indian companies, including autos-to-technology conglomerate Mahindra Group and consumer goods giant ITC Ltd , had already started considering buying Covid-19 vaccines for their employees as early as in January 2021.
