Guwahati: Although the Assam government has decided to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine free of cost to all people above 18 years of age, yet the people in the state might have to wait for the next phase of vaccination.
The Assam government have already requested the Central government for providing 1 crore vaccines. However, only one lakh vaccines have reached the state till Tuesday.
Although the National Health Mission refused to make any comment on this, sources in the health department confirmed that the Principal Secretary of Health and Family welfare department had already written a letter three days back to the central government to provide the required 1 crore doses of vaccines.
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Assam govt has been implementing the covid vaccination program based on the recommendation of the government of India's respective department only. "This time also we are going to receive both Covaxin and Covishield in certain volume as per the availability," the sources said.
Assam Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had on Tuesday told media that the government will buy the vaccines through a tendering process and distribute them free among the citizens. "However, the government is yet to start the process of floating the tender for the procurement of the vaccines," an official on condition of anonymity said.
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The Assam government has started the process of online registration of the citizens for free vaccines, however, the citizens are yet to get a specific date for their vaccination.
