Raging Pandemic and the Dangerous Nautanki of the Modi Regime

[Sukla Sen]

The Union Government has done three things simultaneously.

I. It allowed the states and private enterprises to procure vaccines on their own.

Thereby, washed off its own hands.

That's unprecedented, in case of vaccines.

(Ref.: <https://science.thewire.in/health/watch-centre-abdicating-duty-towards-vaccine-drive-k-sujatha-rao/> and <https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/second-wave-coronavirus-vaccine-serum-institute-7290331/>.

II. Virtually deregulated the price.

Now, Covishield would be available to the Union Government at Rs.150 per dose, to the state governments at Rs.400 per dose and to private hospitals at Rs.600 per dose.

For Covaxin, the corresponding rates would be Rs.150, 600 and 1,200.

The half of production would mandatorily go to the Union Government.

(Ref.: <https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1712710>.)

III. *Quite interestingly, without any augmentation of the availability of vaccine doses - which is even now falling far short of requirements, has expanded - w.e.f. May 1, the category, and thereby the number, of those eligible to be vaccinated.*

Evidently, with no intention of getting more people vaccinated, but to create serious chaos on the ground and make the concerned state governments face the music and, thereby, make its own colossal failure, and even criminality - in terms of the mode of clamping the lockdown, lack of testing and inadequate contract tracing, disproportionately drumming up the Tablighi Jamaat, duly followed up with mammoth Kumbh gathering and huge political rallies etc., apart from earlier taali/thaali/diya, shield from public attention.

<<Tope said going by the current vaccine prices announced by these companies, the state will have to spend Rs 7,500 crore to inoculate 5.71 crore people.

In such a situation, the state will have to bear the cost of inoculating the economically weaker sections, he said.

"The state health department has prepared a note with various options for the immunisation drive, the costing and how to roll it out. The state cabinet will come up with policy after discussions," the minister said.

The state government is expected to hold the cabinet meeting on Wednesday.>>

<https://m.timesofindia.com/city/mumbai/maharashtra-may-get-supply-of-covishield-only-after-may-20-rajesh-tope/amp_articleshow/82275898.cms>