Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik  wrote to all chief ministers for urging the Centre to procure COVID-19 vaccines and distribute them among states and Union Territories.

While writing to all the CMs, Patnaik noted that the vaccination is the only way forward to contain the coronavirus pandemic. 

The Odisha CM said no state is safe unless all the states adopt vaccination as the top priority and execute it on war-footing. But this cannot be a battle among the states to compete against each other to procure vaccines. He appealed to the central government to procure the COVID vaccines and distribute them among the states.

Patnaik also advocated for the decentralisation of the vaccination program and states are allowed the flexibility to determine their own mechanisms to ensure universal vaccination.

The Odisha chief minister’s letter comes amid reports of shortage of coronavirus vaccine doses in several states.

Here’s what Naveen Patnaik wrote in his letter:

“Over the last one year, COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected countries across the world. Especially, after the second wave, people are very scared about future waves and variants. Every citizen in India has been by this pandemic in one way or the other. It could bc losing a loved one or losing a job or loss in business or just the mental trauma because of the present situation. None have been spared by this pandemic.

The only way to protect our people against future waves and provide them with a hope of survival is vaccination. Countries which have focused on vaccination program have remarkable Improvement in their Covid situation. We have to provide this healing touch to our people.

No state is safe unless all the states adopt vaccination as the top priority and execute it on war-footing. But this cannot be a battle among the states to compete against each other to procure vaccines.

The Union Government announced Phase 3 of the vaccine and allowed above 18 and procurement to state governments and private sector, there has been great demand for vaccination from the citizens. Many states have floated global tenders for vaccine procurement. However, it is quite clear that the global vaccine manufacturers are looking forward to the Union for the clearances and assurances. They are unwilling to get into supply contracts with the state governments. While the domestic vaccine manufacturers are having supply constraints and arc not able to commit required supplies.”