Tuesday, 08 June 2021 | PNS | New Delhi
Centre to procure vaccines to give to States for free jabs to all; free ration till Diwali, announces Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday made two major announcements aimed at silencing the critics of the Government’s vaccination policy and ameliorating the plight of millions of have-nots struggling to manage even food due to economic hardship caused by the coronavirus.
Taking charge of vaccination back from the States, the Prime Minister on Monday announced that all vaccines would be procured by the Central Government and given to the States free of cost.
Twenty-five per cent vaccines will continue to be procured by private hospitals while the States’ 75 per cent quota will come from the Centre, said the Prime Minister in his 30-minute address to the nation.
Modi said that all aged 18 and above would receive free vaccines in Government hospitals from June 21, which is also International Yoga Day.
“No State Government will have to spend anything on vaccines,” he said.
Private hospital vaccination service charge has been capped at maximum of Rs 150.
The Prime Minister also announced that the distribution of free rations under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana will be extended till Diwali upto November for 80 crore poor who will receive “free ration” under the scheme.
“This is to ensure that poor should not sleep empty stomach”, he said
Explaining as why Centre has again got into the role of vaccine procurement, The Prime Minister said from January to April-end procurement was under Central supervision but it was decentralised on the demand of the States.
He said several questions were raised as why age-group for vaccine and why the Centre was to decide it and several other “doubts and pressure” created and media made it as a “Campaign”.
Prime Minister said the process of vaccine procurement was then decentralised and States were also allowed in but in May second week the States reviewed their stand saying the “previous system was good” after they felt difficulty in procurement of vaccines.
“State Governments will still be responsible for monitoring vaccinations being carried out by private hospitals”, he said.
Modi said India and its scientists were among the first and few to develop domestic vaccine. “In one year, India developed not one but two made-in-India vaccine and proved that India is not behind”, he said adding so far 23 crore vaccine doses have been given.
He said Government laid down logistics for the vaccine development April, last year itself with the setting-up of “Vaccine Task Force”.
“Today seven companies are developing vaccines in India and they are in advanced stage and for children’s vaccine trial stages are being speeded-up, and nasal vaccine research, that is to be used by spraying it in nose, is on…”, Said Modi.
“Manufacturing vaccine in such a short time is a major achievement”, said the Prime Minister and wondered what we would have done without a vaccine ?
He said in last 50-60 years country used to import vaccine. The Prime Minister said in 2014 vaccine coverage in India was only 60 per cent but “in last 5-6 years we increased it to 90 percent”.
Prime Minister said following Covid19 protocol and vaccination is the best way to prevent the coronavirus and there is need to remain alert as “it has not gone”.
