States can procure only 20 million jabs for 18+ in May
NEW DELHI: State governments across India will altogether be given 20 million doses to inoculate their 18-44 age group population from the roughly 85 million vaccines doses expected to be produced this month, according to a formula shared by the Union government with the Supreme Court, in which the Centre said it has fixed quotas even for doses that states need to directly procure from vaccine makers.
The Union government has said that these 20 million doses will be sent to states based on how many people they have in the 18-44 age group in order to ensure doses are distributed in an equitable manner, but some states have complained that their allocation is inadequate.
“It is submitted that though the states are procuring vaccines from the manufacturers, the central government has, in consultation with the vaccine manufacturers, determined the prorata population of each state in the age group of 18-44 (years) and each state will procure only that quantity so that there is no disparity in availability of vaccines between the states inter-se, either based upon difference in their bargaining power or otherwise,” said the Centre’s response to the Supreme Court filed over the weekend.
The affidavit listed the allocation for the month of May, and added that this supply pertained only to the doses states were directly procuring, with a separate formula is in place for how the Centre distributes the doses it acquires from the vaccine makers. India’s coronavirus vaccination drive follows two tracks: the Union government offers free doses meant for those 45 years of age and above; then there is the acquisition by state governments and private hospitals to give doses for any group they choose to cater to.
The Union government has made it mandatory for vaccine makers in India – at present, the two shots being used widely are both made in India – to keep 50% of their doses for the central supply, while the remaining will be evenly split between private procurers and state governments.
The 20 million doses allocated this month for direct acquisition by state governments are the only ones to be offered for free for those under the age of 45. The rest, ostensibly another 20 million, will be shots that will be paid for. India has roughly 595 million people between the ages of 18 and 44, according to the government’s Technical Group of Population Projections.
Out of the 50% quota allotted to each state, the division is made evenly. In other words, from out of the 50% allotted to the state, half will go to the state’s public channel [calcu
larly, the proper procurement and supply of the life savings drugs/ life support systems like BiPaP machines and High Flow Nasal Cannula Masks have not been made available to the various hospitals, though supply of availability of life-saving drugs like Remdesivir and Tocilizumap has been shown to have been made.”
As for the meal provided to Covid patients of government hospitals, the court observed, “Only fact stated is that Rs 100 is allocated per patient in Level-1 category hospitals. It is a well-known fact that the Covid patient needs highly nutritious food that should include fruits and milk in his daily diet and we fail to understand how with Rs 100 per capita budget the Government is managing three times meal in Level-1 category hospitals with 2100 required calories. No details have been given regarding Level-2 and Level-3 hospitals. We want food details with the calories count of each item in respect of the hospitals of all the categories.”
The Bench said that the recent surge of the Covid-19 pandemic in the state is engulfing in it the remote rural areas and smaller city and town areas of almost all the districts of Uttar Pradesh.
“It would be in the fitness of the things that purchase of vaccine is not only expedited but vaccination programme is launched at a war footing. Even in our last order we had made clear that unless and until everyone was vaccinated, nobody was safe. We hope and trust that the State Government would try to purchase as many vials of desired vaccine as possible to vaccinate maximum number and at least more than 2/3 of the population in 2-3 months’ time,” the court observed.
The court further said that it is necessary to know how many life-saving equipment are really installed in the community health centres.
“Such details are required to be known because in rural areas by and large the facilities are not available and the villagers are dying of Covid for want of proper care. Similar is the situation in the smaller cities,” observed the court.
The court directed the state government counsel to apprise it how it is managing Covid hospitals, requirement of oxygen, beds and life-saving drugs and equipment in the districts of Bahraich, Barabanki, Bijnor, Jaunpur and Shravasti.
The state government was also asked to disclose in its affidavit about the number of tests done in these places (urban and rural) and the laboratory where the testing was being performed.
The data has to be given from March 31, 2021 to May 10. The court has fixed May 17 as the next date of hearing in the case.