States Announce Free Covid-19 Vaccines for All Adults Amid Concerns Over Funds

[Spartan]

Two days after raising concerns before Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue of huge funds required for procuring COVID-19 vaccines for the 18+ age group population, chief ministers of many Opposition-ruled states have now decided to foot the cost of the same.

Rajasthan on Sunday announced that it will vaccinate its entire population free of cost, with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot saying the state will bear the cost of Rs 3,000 Cr for the exercise. “It would have been better if as per demand of the state governments, the Centre would have borne the cost of vaccinating the 18-45 age group like it did for the 45+ age group. This would not have disturbed the state’s budget," Gehlot said in a statement. In Maharashtra, state minister Nawab Malik said there will be a decision soon on free vaccination for all by the state cabinet, a point that Aditya Thackeray also tweeted but later retracted saying one should wait for the recommendation of the empowered committee. Thackeray deleted his earlier tweet which had said, “Maharashtra government has decided to vaccinate its citizens free of cost as this is not something that we think as a choice, but a duty that we consider of utmost importance."

“All states are under public pressure to offer the vaccine for free from their state budgets. If one state offers this, other states will have to do the same due to public demand. The liberty to directly buy the vaccine from the manufacturers – this is something that the state CMs had been consistently demanding for. Now that choice has been given to them even as the Centre will continue to supply them vaccines for free for the 45+ population," a senior central government official told News18. As a pointer to the public pressure, the official pointed out how both the TMC and BJP had promised free vaccination in West Bengal.

In Punjab, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said his government was placing an order of 30 crore Covishield doses for vaccination of the 18-45 age group with directions to use the CM Covid Relief Fund for meeting the vaccine requirements of the poor. He, however, said that as per information received from the Centre, the delivery of the vaccines for 18-45 age group is not expected before May 15. “Punjab government will consider approaching AstraZeneca (India) directly to avail the lower price of Rs 162 per dose available to the global community," the CM said. The Uttar Pradesh government, which has already announced free vaccination for all, said it had placed orders for one crore doses of Covishield and Covaxine to begin vaccinations.

[Spartan]

@Raven_Rayes

[Anta Assamey]

[Migilindi22]

Jagan gaad seysyna free distribution. Baboru laa wealth creation seyaleny sannaassulu

[Tesla_Elon]

5 minutes ago, Spartan said:

@Raven_Rayes

Vadu deniki cheppu ee thread lo edo oka edupu edusthadu malli vachi

[Spartan]

Just now, Tesla_Elon said:

Vadu deniki cheppu ee thread lo edo oka edupu edusthadu malli vachi

we discussed it couple of days back about making vaccine free for all ...so just for his fyi

[Tesla_Elon]

Just now, Spartan said:

we discussed it couple of days back about making vaccine free for all ...so just for his fyi

vadiki logics tho pani em undi bro vadi agenda telisinde ga...