New Delhi: In a major relief for the majority of Indians who were struggling to get Covid vaccines under the liberalised vaccination policy implemented from May 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced a centralised vaccination model, under which every Indian citizen above the age of 18 years will be entitled to get free Covid vaccine at a government facility.
The decision comes within a week after a sharp criticism by the top court of the country last week as it dubbed the government’s vaccination policy for 18-44 year age group as arbitrary and irrational, raised concerns about compulsory registration on national vaccination portal CoWin and sought details about the utilisation of Rs 35,000 crore vaccination budget.
"Today, this decision has been taken that the 25% vaccination-related work, which is with States, will now be the responsibility of the Government of India. This system will be implemented in the next two weeks," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his address to the nation, adding that in the next two weeks, the Centre and States will together make necessary preparations as per the new guidelines.
Read:All people should get free Covid-19 vaccines under new policy: PM Modi
"It is a happy coincidence that after two weeks, International Yoga Day will fall on June 21. From June 21, (Monday), the Government of India will provide free vaccines to everyone above the age of 18 years in every state.”
Prime Minister Modi said the Centre would purchase 75% of the total vaccines produced in the country and give it to States free of cost.
"It means no State will have to spend any money on vaccines," he explained about the system under which the Centre will bear the cost of vaccination at government facilities.
The Prime Minister said now the government of India will provide free of cost vaccine to all countrymen, be it poor, lower middle class, middle class or upper class, everybody will receive free vaccine in this campaign of the Central government.
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He, however, clarified that those who do not want free vaccines and want it through a private hospital will be allowed to get vaccinated at a private hospital as one-fourth of the total vaccine production will be given to private hospitals.
"Private Hospitals cannot charge more than Rs 150 as a service charge, this system will continue to be monitored by States,” he added.
States asked for a greater role: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi blamed the demands of some States to decentralise the vaccination work as they sought a greater say in deciding the criteria, such as the age of priority groups.
"On the other hand, someone said: why should the cut-off age be decided by the Centre alone? Some questioned the priority vaccination for elderly people. All kinds of pressures were created, a section of the country’s media also ran it like a campaign," PM Modi told the audience.
He recalled that after a lot of deliberation it was decided why the Government of India should object if State governments wanted to make some effort.
"Given this demand from States, as an experiment, a change was made in the system which was launched on January 16," said the Prime Minister, adding that from May 1 onwards, States, in their own way, made efforts to fulfill the 25% work that was handed over to them.