Centre clears air on free vax

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has clarified on the issue of vaccines after concerns were raised from various quarters including the Congress. The clarification came on late Sunday night. Harsh Vardhan said, as per the new policy, even after the launch of third phase of vaccination starting May 1, the Government of India will continue giving vaccine doses from its 50 per cent quota to the States and Union Territories for free. These vaccines shall continue to be administered by States and UTs.

He said, the balance 50 per cent quota grants flexibility for States. Many States had requested that the vaccination process be opened up for them. Now, this balance 50 per cent quota shall give them the freedom to vaccinate groups that they deem as priority. "It is a fact that health is a State subject, where Centre essentially coordinates and facilitates the States. After we received requests from nearly all States to liberalise the vaccine distribution policy and pass on the control to the States, we decided to go ahead," Harsh Vardhan said.

The balance 50 per cent quota is also open for corporate and private sector to pool in their resources so that the combined effort of team India can be deployed to vaccinate every adult in the earliest possible time, he said.

The vaccination process through GOI route will continue as before and the entire expense of this will continue to be borne by the Centre. As the eligibility criteria to get vaccinated through this route evolves further, GOI will continue to provide full support to the States to vaccinate all eligible people free of cost.

Undoubtedly, the private and corporate sector route will empower a large number of people to get themselves quickly vaccinated outside the government route. In essence, those who can afford to get them at the private and corporate sector rates, shall go ahead, the minister said.