Addressing the nation on the ongoing COVID-19 situation in the country, PM Narendra Modi, on Monday, justified his government’s decision to ask states to procure vaccines and said that ‘health is a state subject’.
“After we de-centralised certain vaccination processes; many started demanding going back to earlier centralised structure,” PM said while announcing that the decision has been reversed and vaccines will be given free of cost to all Indians above the age group of 18 from June 21.
PM said that India’s fight against COVID-19 has been a continuous process and lauded the efforts of scientists for developing two vaccines within a span of a year.
PM said that 23 crore people have been vaccinated so far and added that the COVID-19 protocol is the biggest weapon against the deadly pandemic.
PM Narendra Modi’s address – Highlights
“Private hospitals can only charge Rs 150 as a service charge on vaccines,” said PM Modi, while announcing that the Government of India will provide free-of-cost vaccines for all Indians above the age group of 18 years from June 21.
– The government has decided to extend Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana till Diwali. 80 crore poor will be provided free ration, under the scheme, says PM Modi
– 25 per cent 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 June, there will be a free vaccine for people above 18 years: PM Modi
– PM Modi announces centralized vaccine drive, all vaccines will be procured by Govt of India and given to States for free.
– 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: PM Modi
– Healthcare is a state subject and that is why a new beginning was made, says PM while justifying Centre’s move to ask states to procure vaccines.
– Vaccine supply will be increasing in the coming days. Seven companies in the country are producing different vaccines, 3 vaccine trials at advanced stage: PM Modi
– 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: PM Modi
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: PM Modi
– 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: PM Narendra Modi
