Has the Central Government abdicated its responsibility on Covid vaccine? The state governments are accusing the Centre of heaping the burden of vaccination on them. Now that the vaccines are being sold in the open market, the demand has only gone up. There are differential rates for the vaccines, which again is causing problems.
Now that Corona is a national calamity, the government can purchase the vaccines and give it for free to the state governments. But, the Centre has asked the State Governments to take up the responsibility of administering the vaccines to those above 18 years of age. Several state governments have meanwhile announced that they would administer the vaccines free of cost. AP has shown the lead in this respect and other states are now following suit.
In fact, the Central Government has allocated Rs 35000 crore for vaccination of the people. Where have all those funds gone? This is the question that intellectuals are raising. If the amount is allocated to the state, there would be no burden. If the State governments give the vaccines for free, the Centre will lose its face, say the analysts.
Now that Corona is a national calamity, the government can purchase the vaccines and give it for free to the state governments. But, the Centre has asked the State Governments to take up the responsibility of administering the vaccines to those above 18 years of age. Several state governments have meanwhile announced that they would administer the vaccines free of cost. AP has shown the lead in this respect and other states are now following suit.
In fact, the Central Government has allocated Rs 35000 crore for vaccination of the people. Where have all those funds gone? This is the question that intellectuals are raising. If the amount is allocated to the state, there would be no burden. If the State governments give the vaccines for free, the Centre will lose its face, say the analysts.