Kerala CM calls for ‘united effort’ to demand vaccines from Centre

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to the Chief Ministers of all non-BJP governed States, seeking to join hands for the demand for universal inoculation. Vijayan said the vaccines should be completely procured by the Central Government and distributed to the States free of cost.

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called for 'united effort' to demand vaccines from the Centre. As part of the united move to get the Centre to procure vaccines for the States, he has written to the Chief Ministers of all non-BJP governed States, seeking to join hands for the demand for universal inoculation.

In the letter, the CM said the vaccines should be completely procured by the Centre and distributed to the States free of cost. He also urged that the demand for vaccines should be put forth unitedly by the States. Pinarayi Vijayan has written to the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Chattisgarh, Odissa, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

Pinarayi Vijayan said, “When the nation is passing through the second surge, it is quite unfortunate that there appears to be an attempt by the Centre to absolve itself of its bounden duty to provide an adequate supply of vaccines to the States”.

The Centre’s stance on COVID vaccination is that the States should procure vaccines themselves. However, there is only a limited supply of vaccines. Foreign pharmaceutical companies are unwilling to enter into an agreement with the States for procuring vaccine.

Pinarayi said that he had already written to the Prime Minister pointing out the merits of the Union Government assessing the requirements of the States and seeking to float a global tender. The impact of the second surge has been unprecedented putting all of us in a state of alarm. Besides, experts warn that the third stage of COVID 19 is highly likely. This necessitates our heightened preparation and vigil to meet that eventuality too. The best way is to develop herd immunity through universal vaccination. Vaccines should be provided free of cost considering it as a public good, the access to which shall be denied to none due to lack of financial wherewithal.

“If the burden of procuring the vaccines is left to fall entirely or even substantially on the states, their fiscal situation will be in dire straits. The fiscal strength of the states is an essential part of a healthy federal set-up. If the states' finances are hamstrung, federalism itself will be weakened and this will not augur well for a democratic polity like ours. Also, it will impede efforts for early building of herd immunity," said Pinarayi.

Herd immunity will be effective only when a substantial portion of the population is vaccinated. However, in India, only 3.1 per cent of the population are fully vaccinated. Vaccine manufacturing companies have been looking for financial gains exploiting the scarce supply situation.

India has public sector pharmaceutical companies that can take up vaccine production. The centre should take necessary steps to ensure that intellectual property right, patent laws and conventions do not come in the way of manufacturing the COVID 19 vaccine, which should have the status of the public good. Compulsory licensing and such options must be explored by the Centre.

“Statements to the effect that the responsibility to provide vaccines entirely falls within the realm of the states defies the very basis of the co-operative federal system. The need of the hour is a united effort from our side to put forth the genuine demand that the Centre should procure vaccines needed by the states and distribute them free of cost," the Kerala CM said, adding that it would be more cost-effective.