Covid-19 vax: Low allocation in FY23, Centre has unutilised funds from FY22

Depending on utilisation of budgetary estimates, allocation can be hiked, say officials

With Covid-19 vaccinations for children and third doses for the elderly and frontline workers lined up during the year, the Centre has about Rs 25,000 crore at its disposal for this purpose.

This despite allocating just Rs 5,000 crore for FY23, or around one-seventh of the budgetary estimates (BE) of FY22, and one-eighth of the revised estimates (RE). Senior government officials, however, indicated that based on utilisation of the budgetary estimates, the allocation for Covid-19 vaccination can be increased at the revised estimate stage for FY23. “Depending on utilisation of budgetary estimates, the allocation for vaccination can be increased at the