VVIP has vaccine at home

While PM Modi and senior Union Ministers, Chief Ministers and others took the trouble of going to hospitals to get the Covid vaccine shot, Karnataka showed that there could be VVIP vaccinations, too, when Agriculture Minister BC Patil on Tuesday got the vaccine delivered at home for him and his wife.

Minutes later, Patil tweeted, "Took the #COVID19Vaccine with my wife, at my Hirekerur house from government doctors today. While 'Made in India' vaccines are being immensely appreciated by many countries, some vested interest groups are spreading false information about them.’’

Videos of Patil proudly presiding on a king-sized chair and taking the jab at home went viral on social media, prompting the Union Health Ministry to slam the minister. The ministry said it was a violation of protocol and has sought a report from the state government.

State Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar and others, including BJP leaders, flayed Patil and said such VVIP vaccinations violated the Epidemics Act.

Patil, 64, and his wife took the vaccine at his Hirekerur residence in Haveri district, on the second day of the vaccination drive, which covers people aged above 60 and 45 plus with co-morbidities.

The Agriculture Minister had no explanation to offer except that the whole issue was being blown out of proportion.

Sources close to the minister said he should have known the rules; if not, the hospital and government doctors should have refused to deliver the vaccine home. The hospital and doctors too were equally at fault.