The Centre Government on Saturday waived off Customs duty and health cess on the import of Covid vaccines and oxygen with immediate effect for a period of three months,. The decision was taken after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meet related to the devastating second wave of infections across the country.
The waiver will include the import of equipment related to supplying patients – whether due to Covid or otherwise – with oxygen, such as generators, storage tanks, filling systems and concentrators.
The centre has also appointed a nodal officer to deal with the customs clearance issues. This, the centre said, would “boost the availability of these items, as well as make them cheaper”.
India currently has two Covid vaccines, both of which are produced domestically. Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech makes Covaxin and Pune-based Serum Institute manufactures Covishield.
