No vaccines for 18+ group, govt plans to move SC: Minister
The Covid inoculation programme for the 18-45 age group has stopped in Rajasthan in the absence of vaccine.
“Today (Thursday) we do not have the vaccine, therefore the vaccination drive has been stopped. It will resume as we receive the vaccine,” health minister Raghu Sharma said.
According to the health department data, more than 1.48 million people in the 18-45 age group has been vaccinated so far.
Sharma said the Covid vaccination for 18-45 age group had been left on state governments by the centre, and chief minister Ashok Gehlot has sanctioned ₹3,000 crore for the same. “We developed vaccination sites, trained manpower, and have storage facility even for bumper vaccine stock, but unfortunately aren’t able to get vaccines. We have given ₹47 crore to SII (Serum institute of India) and ₹12 crore to Bharat Biotech. SII has started its supply, but we are waiting vaccine from other firms,” he said.
He said there are 30.25 million people to be vaccinated in Rajasthan, for which 70 million vaccine doses are required, taking into consideration both the doses and wastage.
“With such a quantity of supply, how will we be able to vaccinate people? This is our serious concern,” he said. “In view of this, the state issued global tender, which should be done by the Union government. Among the companies taking part in the tender process is a vendor of Covishield, which is being produced in the country. Why will we purchase the vaccine produced in the country at high prices,” asked Sharma
He was referring to Covishield, a Covid vaccine which is being made available to the centre at ₹150, but to the states at ₹300-400. “If purchased the vaccine through global tender, the price will be four times,” he claimed, adding that, “There should be one price (of the vaccines) in the country.”
Sharing details about the global tender, he said, “Our officials are contacting embassies to verify credentials of the firms that have participated in the global tender, but I don’t think the issue could be resolved through the global tender.”
Sharma said looking into the situation, the state government, like many other states, will be approaching the Supreme Court to direct the centre to issue a global tender to procure the vaccines. The expenditure could be borne by the state governments, he added. He said the centre has embassies in other countries, which can coordinate with firms manufacturing Covid vaccines.
On the allegations of reducing Covid-19 testing, the minister said, “Why will the state reduce testing? The state has a capacity to conduct 145,000 tests per day and on an average 80,000 tests being conducted per day. Now, we have decided of conduct antigen test on ILI (influenza-like illnesses) cases found in door-to-door survey and in isolated cases RT-PCR tests will be done,” he said. JAIPUR: