Steel companies push to get vaccine doses for staff

India’s top steelmakers are in talks with Covid-19 vaccine makers to procure shots for their employees, including shop floor workers and their families, after the government said vaccinations will be opened for all adults from May 1.
ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India has already placed orders with Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SSI) for around 45,000 vials of its Covid-19 vaccine Covishield.

“There are around 4,000 employees and 5,000-6,000 contract labourers. We will be vaccinating them and their families. Company will be bearing the cost,” said a top executive of the company, requesting anonymity.

Tata Steel is in touch with vaccine makers on purchasing jabs for their employees.

“We are also in touch with the vaccine manufacturers. We are tying up with various city hospitals in relevant geographies for wider and accelerated coverage. We are also aggressively pursuing vaccination at the workplace. We are awaiting clarity on the guidelines related to vaccine procurement from manufacturers,” a spokesperson for Tata Steel said in response to ET’s query.

Jamshedpur-based Tata Steel said it will bear the cost of vaccines administered to its employees.

Companies said the government's decision to open up vaccinations for all adults and allowing the private sector to procure the vaccines will help in the vaccination drive.

Bharat Biotech and SII have announced the price of their Covid-19 vaccines. Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin will be available at Rs 600 per dose for state governments and Rs 1,200 per dose for private hospitals. SII has fixed Covishield's price at Rs 300 per dose for state governments and Rs 600 for private hospitals.

Steelmakers said they will be procuring at the prices fixed by the government.

Naveen Jindal-led Jindal Steel and Power is also in the process of vaccinating all its 28,000 employees. As of now, around 8,400 employees of JSPL have received their first dose.

“JSPL has tied up with various state governments for vaccination of its employees. There is sufficient supply of vaccines by the respective state governments and even after May 1 there will be no supply constraint,” the company’s chief human resources officer, Pankaj Lochan, told ET.

JSW Steel, too, is considering securing vaccines for its employees. The company is seeking information from employees in this regard, sources said.

State-owned Steel Authority of India (Sail) is also in touch with the steel ministry and the respective state governments to procure vaccines for employees who have not been vaccinated.

“We had been doing the vaccination drive for quite some time now. Most of the shop floor workers above 45 and other hospital staffs are already vaccinated. We will be following the same protocol for the inoculation from May 1 as well,” said a top executive of Sail.

At present, companies are sourcing vaccines only from India and have not taken a call on whether to import, given that there is some shortage of vaccines reported in some states.