Covid-19 Vaccine Update: Know Which Countries Plan To Provide Corona Vaccine For Free

As pharma companies Pfizer and Moderna plan to roll out their vaccine soon, here are the countries that plan to give it free of cost to the public.

(Representative Image/ Getty)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday gave a plan for coronavirus vaccine distribution in India during an all-party meet. He said that early eight vaccines are at different stages of trial with their manufacturing assured in India and once the scientists give a green signal it will be released in a few weeks. Speaking about the cost of the vaccine he said that it will be determined after discussion with different states. After his announcement calls for a free covid vaccine has got stronger. In October Union Minister Pratap Sarangi had said that the coronavirus vaccine will be given free of cost to the public after the BJP announced a free Covid-19 vaccine for Bihar as part of their election manifesto in Bihar. But so far there is no clarity from the government on whether the vaccine will be given free of cost. Here are the countries that have promised free vaccine  Japan: The country will give free coronavirus vaccines to all of its residents. The country recently passed a bill that says that the government will cover the cost of the vaccine. The country has secured does of Pfizer and Moderna so far. It has also confirmed it will receive 120 million doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine. Norway: The European nation will also provide the Covid-19 vaccine for free once it becomes available. “We want as many people as possible to get the offer of receiving a safe and effective vaccine. This is why vaccination will be free of charge,” Prime Minister Erna Solberg said in a statement in a Reuters report America: President-elect Joe Biden has said that he will ensure that the vaccine is available for free in the country. Biden has also said that he willing to get vaccinated publicly to show the vaccine's safety. Even in October Biden had said that "Once we have a safe and effective vaccine, it has to be free to everyone, whether or not you're insured.” France: The French Prime Minister Jean Castex on Thursday announced that the vaccine will be given for free. He had said that the government had kept 1.5 billion euros of next year's social security budget to cover the cost of the vaccination programme. Finland: Covid-19 inoculation will be free in Finland and it will begin in early 2021. The country's health ministry said that the vaccine will be offered by priority: medical personnel, patients of hospitals and nursing homes, people of older age groups. 'Finland’s goal is to protect the entire population with a licensed vaccine. Vaccines are offered free of charge to everyone who wishes,' said the Health ministry. Pakistan: The Pakistani government has also announced that it will provide the vaccine free of cost to the public. Parliamentary Secretary on Health Nausheen Hamid said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government has approved funds to purchase the vaccine doses. "The PTI government will provide the coronavirus vaccines free of cost to the people. The government will start the vaccination from the second quarter of 2021," Hamid tweeted.