New Delhi, 07 June: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced that the countrymen will now be vaccinated completely free of cost through the Central Government. Also, like last year, free food grains will be given to the needy people till November this year.
In his address to the Nation, the Prime Minister said that the Central Government has taken a decision today regarding vaccine availability and vaccination. Under this, now the entire responsibility of providing the vaccine will be of the central government. In the next two weeks, a new draft will be prepared in consultation with the states. It will be implemented from the day of Yoga Day on June 21st.
He said that earlier the policy of vaccination was changed only on the request of the state governments and the responsibility of purchasing 25 percent vaccines from companies for their production was entrusted to the state governments. Difficulties have come before the state governments in this task. Now a suggestion has been received from them, after which the old system, which continued from January 16 to the end of April, is being restored.
Modi stated that 75 per cent of the production from vaccine companies would be procured by the central government and the same would be made available to the state governments for free vaccination.
He said in his address that every citizen above the age of 18 years would be vaccinated freely. It has also been decided that private hospitals will be able to get the remaining 25 percent share from vaccine manufacturing companies. It has been decided for private hospitals that they will be able to charge only Rs 150 on top of the cost of the vaccine.
He said that last year the Central Government had provided free food grains to 80 crore people of the country under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). In view of the second wave of Corona pandemic, this scheme was implemented in May and June also. The central government has now decided that the free food grains scheme will be extended till the month of Diwali i.e. November.
Criticizing the tendency of creating confusion and spreading rumours about the vaccine, the Prime Minister said that everyone should try to get more and more people vaccinated. Criticizing the people creating a negative environment, he said that an attempt was made to break the spirits of the vaccine-making companies in the country. There is a need to rise above this mentality.
He said that the country is watching those who are spreading apprehension and rumours about the vaccine, those people should desist from playing with innocent countrymen. People should also ignore this.
Referring to the country’s campaign against the corona epidemic, the Prime Minister said that India is one of the few countries in the world where large-scale vaccination is going on. Last year, the central government had constituted a task force to prepare the vaccine in the country and scientists worked tirelessly to prepare two vaccines.
βAt present, seven companies in the country are engaged in the work of vaccine production. Also, the work of testing the vaccine given through nasal spray is in the final stages. This vaccine will prove to be very useful in the work of vaccination,β Modi said.
About the country’s inoculation drive, he said that based on the advice of the World Health Organization (WHO) and medical scientists, it was decided to start vaccination in a phased manner. First of all, doctors and health workers were vaccinated.
He said that due to vaccination of doctors, nurses, sanitation workers and ambulance drivers, they were able to protect themselves and take proper care of the patients. If these people had not got the protective cover through vaccination, then a horrific situation could have arisen which is unimaginable.
He said that as per the plan of phased vaccination, the work of immunization of frontline workers, people above 60 years of age and people suffering from diseases was taken up.
He said that it is unfortunate that some people have raised objections as to why the elderly are being given priority in vaccination.
Referring to the difficulties faced in the initial phase of the Corona pandemic, he said that the Central Government made efforts on a war footing to expand the health infrastructure of the country.
Referring to the decrease in oxygen availability during the second wave, Modi said that the demand suddenly increased tremendously. In this work, the central government obtained oxygen from wherever possible. Oxygen and other medical supplies were transported to various places through Railways, Air Force and Navy.
The Prime Minister said that while vaccination continues, the countrymen should strictly follow the medical protocol. Protective measures like masks and two yards distance etc. should be strictly followed.
The Prime Minister while encouraging the countrymen said that victory is achieved only through faith. The country will win this battle through self-confidence and enterprise.
