The Bengal government has decided to allot one lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccines to private hospitals in the city so the second jab could be given to those who had taken their first at the private units.

Officials said the 1 lakh-odd people who have taken their first dose at private hospitals will have their second shot due from May 1.

As the private hospitals were supposed to return all vaccine doses post-April 30, following a directive by the Centre, there were confusions and anxiety whether these one lakh people would get their second dose.

“We are aware of the anxiety over the issue. We have decided to allot the required number of doses to the private hospitals post-April 30 so they can administer the second jab,” said a senior government official.

Sources in the health department also said the government would allot the doses free of cost and the hospitals could collect a service charge from recipients.

“Majority of the private hospitals are carrying out vaccination for people over 45 years of age at Rs 250 a dose. Of which, the hospitals were paying Rs 150 for each dose and collecting Rs 100 as service charge. This time, the hospitals will be given the doses for free. So, they will only be allowed to collect the service charge,” an official said.

Sources said the decision was taken after the state came to know that the doses to be returned by private hospitals after April 30 would go to the respective state governments.

“So, we will have enough doses to supply to the private hospitals. And the private hospitals will not be charged for the doses as the state government has promised to provide vaccines for free,” a source said.

The state government will fix a venue for each private hospital where the second dose can be administered. “For example, AMRI Salt Lake can be given a facility at the Salt Lake stadium,” the source said.

The government has also decided to write to the Centre expressing its wish to buy a few crore doses to carry out a free vaccination drive in the state.