Free vaccine for all, Center to handle vaccination process from June 21, announces PM Modi

Read in Hindi: सभी के लिए मुफ्त टीका, 21 जून से टीकाकरण प्रक्रिया संभालेगा केंद्र, पीएम मोदी की घोषणा

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on Monday said that the Center will provide free vaccines to states for all citizens above 18 years of age from June 21.

PM Modi announced, “The Government of India itself will buy 75% of the total vaccine production from vaccine manufacturers and give it free of cost to state governments.”

Highlights of PM Modi’s speech:

The Center will buy 75% of the total vaccine production from vaccine manufacturers and give it free of cost to the state governments.

25% of all vaccines will continue to be administered through private hospitals. However, private hospitals can charge a maximum of Rs 150 for vaccination at a higher cost.

Seven companies are manufacturing different vaccines in the country, 3 vaccine trials are in advanced stage, PM announced

PM Modi said that research is being done for nasal vaccine in the country.

PM Modi appealed to everyone to increase awareness about the vaccine.

PM Modi hit out at opposition states for taking a U-turn on vaccine politics and the earlier centralized vaccine policy.

The government has decided to extend the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana till Diwali. Under the scheme, 80 crore poor will be given free ration.

All countries combined have less production capacity compared to the global demand for the vaccine, the PM said on the vaccine shortage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on Monday said that the Center will provide free vaccines to states for all citizens above 18 years of age from June 21.

PM Modi announced, “The Government of India itself will buy 75% of the total vaccine production from vaccine manufacturers and give it free of cost to state governments.”

The Center will buy 75% of the total vaccine production from vaccine manufacturers and give it free of cost to the state governments.

25% of all vaccines will continue to be administered through private hospitals. However, private hospitals can charge a maximum of Rs 150 for vaccination at a higher cost.

Seven companies are manufacturing different vaccines in the country, 3 vaccine trials are in advanced stage, PM announced

PM Modi said that research is being done for nasal vaccine in the country.

PM Modi appealed to everyone to increase awareness about the vaccine.

PM Modi hit out at opposition states for taking a U-turn on vaccine politics and the earlier centralized vaccine policy.

The government has decided to extend the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana till Diwali. Under the scheme, 80 crore poor will be given free ration.

All countries combined have less production capacity compared to the global demand for the vaccine, the PM said on the vaccine shortage.

The Prime Minister made three major announcements in his address to the nation today

75% of the vaccines from domestic producers will be procured by the Center and provided to the states free of cost;

Vaccinations will be provided free of charge to all adults over the age of 18. Those who want to get vaccinated in private hospitals will continue to have 25% quota and at a fixed price; and

Free ration for 80 crore beneficiaries will continue till November to help poor families tide over the economic hardship caused by the second wave of the pandemic.

The central government in mid-April, at the request of the states, allowed state governments to procure and vaccinate the 18-45 age group with effect from May 1. State governments can buy up to 25% of the production of Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech. They were also allowed to import vaccinations from abroad.

The vaccination process, which was running smoothly till April under the control of the central government, worsened from May 1 as states could not procure enough supplies from domestic and international markets. Only 7 crore people were vaccinated in May as against 16 crore by the end of May.

States like Punjab and Delhi said they failed to import vaccines because foreign players do not want to deal with local governments. After realizing that the task was easier said than done, the same states that were promoting decentralization started requesting the central government to procure and distribute the vaccines.

Even Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said in his press conference that it is the responsibility of Prime Minister Modi to vaccinate the entire country. Some states like Jharkhand have written to the Center that they cannot provide funds for vaccination and the Center should provide them free of cost.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Andhra counterpart Jagan Reddy also made similar demands for centralized procurement and decentralized administration. The decentralized process resulted in differential pricing and was criticized by experts.

It was stated that this policy resulted in a vendor market with 30-odd states pursuing the same vaccine manufacturers in a dichotomous market. Vaccination for 18+ in some states has either not started or is progressing at a snail’s pace.

As soon as the opposition-ruled states realized that public anger was rising against them, they gave a befitting reply, taking a neat U-turn and demanding that the Center should buy it for free, given the funds already in the Union Budget. has been made available. , etc.

The matter is also being heard in courts where the government has put on record that all adult Indians will be vaccinated by December 2021. The court had termed the policy as “arbitrary and irrational” and asked for projection of numbers (demand-supply). , including imports, and show how the government intends to meet its goal of immunizing everyone by the end of the year.

The decision shows that the Modi government is ready to react. It did not hesitate to reconsider its earlier decision because it was not working.

The health and safety of citizens is paramount for Prime Minister Modi.

Announcement of re-centralisation will benefit all stakeholders: it removes ambiguity and uncertainty, will result in uniform pricing and hence save taxpayers money, it will save bureaucratic time and resources and improve efficiency of efforts. Will promote distribution – Central Government for procurement and State Governments towards administration of vaccines.

The entire nation has heaved a sigh of relief as they have more faith in the Prime Minister than their Chief Ministers to get them vaccinated and protected from the deadly coronavirus.

This is also likely to boost Modi’s ratings which have been affected recently.

This is a true example of cooperative federalism. Instead of indulging in politics now, both the central and state governments should try and work hand in hand to meet the target by 2021. The opposition should welcome the verdict instead of criticizing it just for it.

The decision of free ration will also help the poor whose income has been affected due to the second wave to tide over this crisis. Last year during the first phase also this scheme was applicable for 8 months.

The decisions taken today will help save lives and livelihoods and help India recover from the pandemic.