Comments by "Sankalp" (@sankalp6872) on "PM Modi offers prayers at Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib to mark 400th Prakash Purab" video.

Ambani's Jamnagar plant is supplying oxygen to Maharashtra and Gujarat. Adani brought oxygen cylinders from the Middle east. SII and Bharat Biotech are producing life-saving vaccines. Left contribution = "Bickering". Everyone takes home salaries or payments for product/services provided. Why should vaccine companies be any different? Central Govt is paying about $2 and State Govt is paying about $4 for Covishield. These are among the cheapest prices around the world. Also, None of the citizens is being charged for vaccines (although we pay indirectly via taxes).
5
@RajRaj-zw2cr The third price is for private players which by the way the Govt cannot control. As to the difference between the Center and state, the original plan was for the Center to buy all the vaccines but now they have allowed procurement by the state govt. Bulk buyers have more leverage hence they are able to fetch deep discounts. In this case, the Center has more leverage as it is buying 50% of the product. The states have less leverage because they will be putting out global tenders and buying from other companies like Sputnik and Bharat Biotech too. The difference in pricing is logical. Nonetheless, the deal created shady optics. The Center should have stuck an exclusive deal with SII and asked states to procure their vaccines from Bharat Biotech and other vaccine suppliers. But then again we both know if such a deal was struck then lefto-liberal gang would have been ranting about how State's were denied SII vaccines. So anyways it would have created bad optics. They clearly acted in hurry after Second started causing all the mayhem and did not think through giving people like you the opportunity to criticize vaccine makers. This vaccine came into the market in 9 months time because private players took it upon themselves to produce these vaccines. Govt labs around the world wouldn't have given these results even in 9 years. Now the unnecessary controversy over vaccine prices has exposed companies like SII to reputational risk. This may prevent them from taking such endeavours in the future. This may not be the last pandemic that we face. Thus, ultimately this hurts us the people. Also, one easily spends Rs 300 on a movie and pizza whose profit margins per tickets are about 50-60%, why is a vaccine of the same amount such a prickly subject? As it is it will be freely administered.
3
@RajRaj-zw2cr Get your facts right. The UK is buying the AstraZeneca vaccine at $4. The US is not using AstraZeneca rather it is buying Moderna and Pfizer both costing $15 and $19.50 resp. I will attach the source below. India does not own a patent over the AstraZeneca vaccine. SII has to pay 50% royalty to AstraZeneca from its revenues which is adding to costs. India and South Africa and other developing countries have applied for a patent waiver but rich countries have blocked it. As to setting up an Oxygen plant - It takes about 1 month. Did the Govt fail to anticipate the surge? Of course, it did. The new variant caught India off guard. I do not want to comment on China as most stories from there are propaganda without any independent verification. Also, ask any civil engineer. They will tell you that why it is not possible to build a Hospital in a matter of few days. The building slab itself will take about 10-15 days to harden. As to why Covaxin costs $5? You go and ask Bharath Biotech. While you are at it ask Pfizer and Sanofi why they have priced their vaccines at $15 and $10 respectively. Every vaccine is different and therefore the costs are different. Also, you are wrong. No vaccine company is using public funds. They have got credit limit to scale production but NO PUBLIC FUNDS. Vaccine prices: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/eu-coronavirus-vaccines-cheaper-than-united-states/2020/12/18/06677e34-4139-11eb-b58b-1623f6267960_story.html
2
@RajRaj-zw2cr Why the smileys? Did the article not mention the reasons for the special price or were you so overjoyed that you missed the details that the vaccine development was funded by the EU and the US? Why did you leave out that detail? Is it not mentioned that the companies got $1.2 and $4.1 billion from the EU and the US Govts? Also, the US does NOT use AstraZeneca. It uses Moderna and Pfizer.
2
@RajRaj-zw2cr What happened no words because you have no argument?
2
@RajRaj-zw2cr I am not interested in what Modi answers and not answers. The argument that you started was on vaccine pricing. You don't have anything so you are simply shifting goal post. I simply wanted to expose you naked.
2
@RajRaj-zw2cr Poor people don't buy pizza or visit a Movie Theater? It is a one time expense. Also, all vaccines are being given for free. Also, your second argument does not hold any logic either. The Center is also under financial stress. The cost of vaccination is about 67,500 crores. The Centre will be spending about half the amount. It will also be forced to compensate states facing deficits. Needless to say, it will favour BJP ruled states but that's politics. Things are bad. No matter who pays, money will be going out of the common man's pocket. The original plan was for the Center to procure vaccines and distribute but now we find ourselves in the middle of a second wave and need an accelerated vaccination program. Hence, we allowed procurement by the state govt.
2