Hummingbird News Desk
NEW DELHI, 7 JUNE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the nation on Monday, said that from June 21, the Centre would provide free vaccines to states for all citizens above 18 years of age.
PM Modi said that while 25% of all vaccines will be given to private hospitals, they can charge a maximum of Rs 150 for vaccination above the price.
“It has been decided that from June 21, all adults over the age of 18 will be vaccinated free,” PM Modi said.
Terming the pandemic the biggest calamity of last hundred years, a pandemic not seen nor experienced in the modern world, the Prime Minister said that the country fought the pandemic at many fronts.
Recalling the unprecedented rise in the demand for the medical oxygen during the second wave during the months of April and May, the Prime Minister said that the challenge was met at the war footing deploying all the systems of the government. In the history of India, this level of demand for medical oxygen was never experienced, said PM Modi.
The Prime Minister said that globally, vaccine producing companies and countries are far less than what is the global demand for the vaccines. In such a scenario, made in India vaccine was critical for India.
The Prime Minister, pointed out that in the past, India used to get vaccines decades after they were developed abroad. This always resulted in a situation in the past where India could not even start vaccination while other countries used to finish the vaccine work.
PM Modi said that by working in mission mode, we raised the vaccination coverage from 60 per cent to 90 per cent in 5-6 years. We not only enhanced the speed but also widened the ambit of vaccination, said the Prime Minister,
This time, said the Prime Minister, India warded off all the apprehensions and, through clean intentions, clear policy and constant hard work, not just one but two made-in-India vaccines for Covid were launched in India. Our scientists proved their caliber. Till today, more than 23 crore vaccine doses have been administered in the country.
The Prime Minister recalled that Vaccine Task force was constituted when there were just few thousand Covid-19 cases and vaccine companies were supported by the government in all possible ways in trials and funding for research and development.
The Prime Minister informed that due to great effort and hard work, supply of vaccine is about to increase in coming days. He conveyed that, today, seven companies are producing different type of vaccines. Trials of three more vaccines are in the advanced stage, informed the Prime Minister.
Appreciating the Corona Warriors and vaccine manufacturers, the PM said that the govt has stood solidly behind them adding “I was confident that Indian scientists will develop a vaccine in quick time”.
The Prime Minister also talked of trials for two vaccines for children and a ‘nasal vaccine’.
Prime Minister dwelled on the differing views from various quarters on the vaccination drive. As the corona cases started declining, questions arose about the lack of choice for states and some people questioned why the central government is deciding everything.
Flexibility in lockdown and one-size-does-not-fit-all type of argument were forwarded. PM Modi said that starting from 16 January to April end; India’s vaccination programme was run mostly under the central government.
Free vaccination for all was moving forward and people were showing discipline in getting vaccinated when their turn came. In the midst of all this demands for decentralization of vaccination were raised, decision about priority to certain age groups were raised. Many types of pressures were exerted and certain sections of media took it as campaign.
Tags: #PMModi #PMNarendraModi #coronavirus #ModiSpeech #PMModiAddress #FreeVaccineForAll #ModiHaiToMumkinHai
