As Covid-19 vaccine registration for all Indians above the age of 18 was opened yesterday, a total of 1.23 crore individuals signed up for receiving the vaccinations. Appointments are not being fixed yet, as a majority of states will receive the vaccines for inoculating populations above the age of 18 only after May 15-20. This, because vaccine manufacturers like SII and Bharat Biotech are currently overwhelmed by pre-existing orders placed by the Centre under its own quota – using which the country is vaccinating priority groups as of now. As for the vaccination of all adults, the Centre has made it clear that vaccines delivered under its quota cannot be used by states in the latest phase of the vaccination campaign.
The vaccine manufacturers have begun receiving orders from state governments, and will soon begin manufacture of vaccines for various Indian states. The latest delivery of the vaccines by states can be expected only by the 3rd week of May, after which they can begin inoculation of 18+ individuals. This is largely understood by all sane individuals. The Congress party, however, is insane. Not that this is not already known, but states ruled by the Congress or where the party is in a ruling alliance have taken to brazen politicization of the issue of there being some delay in the supply of vaccines for the inoculation of individuals above the age of 18.
Chhattisgarh’s Health Minister TS Singh Deo, for instance said that Chhattisgarh is finding it difficult to kickstart the massive inoculation drive to cover those between 18-45 years of age from May 1. To the same effect, he remarked, “We have already brought this concern to the notice of the Centre. How can we start the campaign when vaccines are not available…From where the vaccine will come? There is no point in approaching vaccine manufacturers as everybody know that there are no vaccines.”
In a virtual meeting of the health minister of Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jharkhand, the Modi government was unanimously and falsely accused of “hijacking” vaccine stocks from the manufacturers. The states also expressed their inability to begin vaccinations of people aged above 18 years from May 1. But just in case these states have not been paying attention, close to no state is beginning the said phase of vaccinations from May 1 – since nobody has received stocks from the vaccine manufacturers for the same purpose yet. All states will be receiving vaccine stocks from manufacturers in the coming weeks, depending on when they have placed their orders.
Jharkhand’s government, led by JMM – whose partner is the Congress party, said that the state is being meted out ‘step-motherly’ treatment by the central government. The state’s health minister, Banna Gupta said, “We are not able to procure vaccines from them despite the fact that we are ready to pay.” He also enquired why the Centre had been ‘exporting’ vaccines to foreign nations.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi-led government of Maharashtra expects to be tutored by the Centre continuously. Archana Patil, director of Health Services in Maharashtra said, “Things are still under discussion. We are expecting more clarification from the Centre through meetings over video conferencing in the next couple of days and will have more clarity only after that.” Health Minister Rajesh Tope, meanwhile, asked, “The big question in front of the state is how do we start the third phase of vaccinations if we don’t get the stock?”
It is learnt that both SII and Bharat Biotech have begun receiving orders from the state governments, although no state seems to have received replies from the manufacturers yet. Effectively, it is understood that no state will be beginning vaccinations for people above the age of 18 from May 1. Yet, it is only Congress-ruled states and those where it is a part of the government that are making a grand fuss about the issue, thus spreading panic among the people – who might end up thinking that they are being wrongfully deprived of vaccines. The Congress has yet again been exposed as a sick party, which cannot rise above petty politics even in times of national crises.