PM Narend Modi on Monday announced that all COVID-19 vaccines will be procured by government of India and given to the States for free.
Addressing the nation, the PM said, "25% of vaccination work with states will now be handled by the Centre, it will be implemented in the coming two weeks. Both State and Centre to work as per new guidelines in the coming two weeks. From June 21, free vaccine for people above 18 years."
He said that private hospitals can only charge Rs 150 as service charge on vaccines.
Addressing the nation, PM Modi said, "This is the deadliest pandemic in the past 100 years. The modern world has not seen such a pandemic. Our country has fought this pandemic at many levels."
He added, "New health infrastructure has been developed in the 1.5 years with COVID hospitals, ventilators beds, to preparing a network of testing labs. During the 2nd wave in April-May, demand for medical oxygen increased at an unprecedented rate."
Speaking about overall vaccination in India, the PM said that there is very less number of vaccine manufacturers in world compared to its demand. "Imagine what would have happened in India if we didn't have vaccines. If you look at history of last 50-60 yrs, you will know that it used to take decades for India to get vaccines from abroad," he added.
He said, "If you look at the history of the last 50-60 years, it used to take India decades to get the vaccines from abroad. Vaccine work used to be completed abroad, even then vaccination work could not start in our country."
"In the last one year, India launched two made-in-India vaccines. Today more than 23 crore vaccine doses administered," said PM Modi.
The PM said that vaccine supply will be increased in the coming days. "Seven companies in the country are producing different vaccines, 3 vaccine trials at an advanced stage," he said.
As India aims at vaccinating most of its population by end of the year, PM Modi said that the government is ramping up the process to procure vaccines from abroad.
"To increase vaccine availability, the process of procuring vaccines from abroad has been sped up. Experts have also expressed concerns about children. In this direction, the trial of two vaccines is underway. Research is being conducted for a nasal vaccine in the country," he said.
In order to support the poor amid the pandemic, the government has decided to extend Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana till Diwali. The PM said that 80 crore poor will be provided free ration under the scheme.
