Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi›s announcement of free Covid vaccines to adult Indians and a steep decline in the number of fresh Covid-19 cases, the politics around vaccines has again taken the driver’s seat.
According to data released by the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday morning, 86,498 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours, the lowest in 66 days, taking the active caseload to 13,03,702. India had 37.45 Lakh active cases on 10 May when the nation was reeling under the second wave of Covid-19. The number of people succumbing to the epidemic in the last 24 hours is 2123, lowest since 22 April.
As the pandemic has slowed down, politics has intensified. Congress leader and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh, in a virtual press briefing, said that the only concern of the government is for headlines and not deadlines. He added that free and universal vaccination was a long pending demand of his party. Ramesh said: “The government is only concerned about headlines and not deadlines. To complete vaccination by December, 80 lakh vaccinations per day is required, but the question is from where the vaccines will come in order to do that.”
As the Opposition lashed out at Central government and the BJP, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri took upon himself to repel attacks on pandemic handling. The minister took to Twitter and slammed the opposition camp for first failing to deliver on inoculation drive front and then throwing stones in PM Modi’s way.
“Since then, they were looking for a way out till PM Modi bailed them out. While they failed to live up to their responsibility, the Centre will not. All 18+ citizens will be vaccinated for free by December 2021. All they have to ensure is that there is no wastage or profiteering,” Puri said.
On Monday, PM Modi said that the Central government will now provide free Covid-19 vaccines to all Indians. Modi said that this decision has been taken as many states came forward with a demand for reconsideration of the vaccination strategy and for bringing back the system that was in place before 1 May, when the vaccination drive was completely centralized.
It has been decided that the 25 per cent vaccination that was with states will now be undertaken by the Centre. In two weeks, the Centre and states will make necessary preparations as per new guidelines. From 21 June onwards, the Centre will provide free vaccine to all Indian citizens above 18 years of age, Modi said while addressing the nation on TV.