Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that from June 21st, the national government will offer free covid-19 vaccinations to all adults.
Modi added that the central government will now acquire 75 percent of the whole production of vaccine companies and deliver it to the states free of charge, as part of the government’s Liberalized and Accelerated Phase-3 Strategy of Covid-19 Vaccination, which began on May 1, 2021.
“No state government would be spending anything for vaccines. Till now, crores of people got free vaccine, now 18 years segment will be added to this. Government of India will provide free vaccines to all the citizens,” the Prime Minister said.
Because several states have asked for a rethinking of the vaccination policy and a return to the structure that existed before May 1, it has been agreed that the government of India will now take over the 25% immunisation that was previously with the states. In two weeks, this will be implemented. According to Modi, the centre and states would make the required preparations in two weeks in accordance with the new rules.
The prime minister stated that the mechanism of private hospitals procuring 25% of vaccinations directly will remain. “State governments will ensure that only a Rs 150 service fee is paid by private hospitals above the vaccinations’ determined price,he added.
Recalling the enormous increase in demand for medical oxygen during the second wave in April and May, the Prime Minister said the issue was faced on a military footing, with all of the government’s systems deployed. This degree of demand for medical oxygen has never been seen before in India’s history, according to Modi.
According to the Prime Minister, vaccine manufacturing firms and nations are significantly less than the worldwide need for vaccinations. In such a situation, India’s need for a made-in-India vaccine was vital. India used to acquire vaccinations decades after they were produced elsewhere, according to the Prime Minister. This always resulted in a situation in the past where India could not even start vaccination while other countries used to finish the vaccine work.
“By working in mission mode, we raised the vaccination coverage from 60% to 90% in 5-6 years. We not only enhanced the speed but also widened the ambit of vaccination,” said the Prime Minister.
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“This time, India warded off all the apprehensions and, through clean intentions, clear policy and constant hard work, not just one but two made-in-India vaccines for Covid were launched in India. Till today, more than 23 crore vaccine doses have been administered in the country,” said Modi.
The Vaccine Task force was constituted when there were just few thousand Covid-19 cases and vaccine companies were supported by the government in all possible ways in trials and funding for research and development, said the prime minister.
“As the corona cases started declining, questions arose about the lack of choice for states and some people questioned why the central government is deciding everything. Flexibility in lockdown and one-size-does-not-fit-all type of argument was forwarded,” said Modi.
The Lancet Citizens’ Commission on Reimagining India’s Health System has proposed that central methods be built to acquire and distribute free covid-19 vaccinations, rather than the present strategy of decentralized procurement through state governments. Industry groups have also asked for a centralized procurement structure to ensure that covid-19 vaccinations are distributed more widely and in a transparent and efficient manner.
