CM hails Centre’s move to procure, distribute all jabs

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday appreciated the central government’s policy to buy vaccines for all beneficiary groups to distribute among states from June 21, even as he highlighted the Supreme Court’s role in the move and expressed concerns over the quantum of vaccine production in the country.

“Vaccine shortage is concerning. It is a good thing that the central government has decided to buy vaccines and distribute it among states from June 21. We welcome the decision, even though it was done after the Supreme Court’s intervention and its pressure. Better late than never,” said Kejriwal during his visit to a site of an oxygen storage system in northwest Delhi’s Siraspur.

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Union government was tak“the ing over the responsibility of procuring vaccines and distributing them to the states.

The Centre will continue to allow private hospitals to buy up to 25% of the vaccines made in India, although it has capped the service charge they can levy on these at ₹150 a dose.

“The details of India’s new vaccine policy will be worked out in consultation with the states in the next two weeks, and will be out on June 21,” said the Prime Minister.

Kejriwal on Thursday said: biggest question that looms large is where will the government avail vaccines from? Production capacity in the country is still very low. If we have sufficient number of vaccines, and other states follow Delhi’s model, the whole population can be vaccinated in three months.”

We welcome the decision, even though it was done after the SC’S intervention.

Govt to vaccinate delivery agents

Delhi’s deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday issued directions to the health department to tie up with companies – especially in the retail and food aggregator sectors – to ensure that their delivery agents are vaccinated.

His office said in a press statement: “Deputy Chief Minister Shri Manish Sisodia on Thursday directed the Health Ministry to tie up with organisations such as Amazon, Flipkart, Zomato, Swiggy, Dunzo, and other organisations, to ensure vaccination for the delivery persons working for these organisations.”

Delhi chief minister