Vaccination: Why India has more faith in PM Modi

June 23, 2021 comments 1200

Prime Minister in his address to the nation today (June 7) made three big announcements: 75% of vaccines from domestic producers will be procured by

• 75% of vaccines from domestic producers will be procured by The Centre and provided to states for free;


• Vaccination will be provided free of cost to all adults above 18 years of age. Those who wish to get vaccinated in private hospitals, 25% quota will continue and at a fixed price; and


• Free ration for 80 crore beneficiaries to be continued till November to help poor households tide over the economic hardship caused by the second wave of the pandemic.

The central government had in mid April, at the request of states, allowed state governments to procure and vaccinate the 18-45 age group from May 1. State governments could buy up to 25% of 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 central government control, went haywire from May 1 as states could not procure enough supplies from domestic and international markets. Only around 7 crore people were vaccinated in May as against 16 crore till the end of April.

States like Punjab and Delhi said that they failed to import vaccines as foreign players do not want to deal with local governments. After realising that the job was easier said than done, the same states which were propagating decentralisation started requesting the central government to procure vaccines and distribute them.