UP, ASSAM, BIHAR, C’GARH, MP, KERALA, RAJASTHAN TO PROVIDE VAX FOR FREE

The state governments in Assam, Bihar Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan have announced to vaccinate everyone in the 18-45 age group for free from May 1 onwards. Donations received last year for Covid management will be utilised for the purpose, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said. The Assam’s health dept has already written to Covaxin maker Bharat Biotech for procuring 1 crore vaccines. "Assam will give free vaccines to everyone from 18-45 years. GOI is giving free vaccines for 45+," Sarma tweeted. "Today itself, we've placed orders for 1 cr doses with @BharatBiotech," the health minister said. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said free of cost vaccine will be provided to everyone. He asked the Centre to take steps to make available the necessary quantity of vaccines. Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot tweeted: "After constant demands by the Congress party and the states, the Centre has decided to vaccinate people above the age of 18, which we welcome. The Centre should also announce free vaccine for the youth above 18 years of age. Not giving vaccine for free will increase resentment among the youth towards the Centre." Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said: "We will take all possible steps to protect the lives of our citizens. Chhattisgarh ranks fourth in the entire country in administering the first dose of vaccine to those above the age of 45 years." CM Nitish Kumar tweeted in Hindi: "The Bihar government will provide Covid-19 vaccine free of cost to all above 18 years of age in the state.” UP CM Yogi Adityanath tweeted: "In the cabinet meeting it has been decided that corona virus vaccination of all the people above 18 years of age in Uttar Pradesh will be made free... Coronavirus will lose, India will win. We have to increase vaccination centres and create a database of the target age-group.”