Five Months after Launch of Vaccination, the Union Government Provides a Hint How the Vaccine Doses Would Be Disbursed
Jun 8, 2021,
The vaccination programme had been launched, with the Union Government monopolising 100% of all available vaccines, in mid-January (ref.: < https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-worlds-largest-vaccination-programme-begins-in-india-on-january-16/article33582069.ece >).
It took almost five months to come out with a sort of protocol to determine allocation between states. Never mind, that even now, if it reads rather like a Sudoku puzzle.
Hope the Supreme Court would make the maker of the puzzle solve it for the benefit of the common Indians, Apart from asking for a detailed roadmap as regards augmenting the supply in the foreseeable future.
The whole episode goes to underline how enormous damage recent Judgement have done.
Just to illustrate, last year, over a crore of migrant workers - as per government figures (ref.: < https://www.news18.com/news/india/over-1-crore-migrant-workers-walked-to-their-home-states-during-covid-19-lockdown-till-june-2899161.htm l>), had to trek back home - maybe hundreds of miles away, braving the scorching sun under the impact of the brutal lockdown, with less than 4 hours notice, meant to lock them up at their places of work so that they become available to their employers at their convenience as and when the lockdown eases.
Also thanks to the Supreme Court (ref.: < https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/supreme-court-order-on-covid-19-vaccines-cant-be-silent-spectators-2454705 >.) twelve major opposition parties have, in unison, asked for universal free vaccination (ref.: < https://indianexpress.com/article/india/12-oppn-leaders-write-to-pm-modi-demand-free-mass-vaccination-suspension-of-central-vista-project-7312541/ >), The Congress also sought to credit the Supreme Court for the change in the Centre's vaccination policy and said the announcement came after the apex court reprimanded it and sought an affidavit on the inoculation drive.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "The prime minister is guilty of endangering the lives of Indians by repeatedly changing the (vaccination) policy and instead of accusing the states, he should be tendering an apology for endangering people's lives." He alleged that the government has brought these changes in its vaccination policy after it was reprimanded by the Supreme Court. He alleged that the PM is "Pulling the wool over someone's eyes", as his government has ignored and rejected the demand made by several Congress leaders for universal free vaccination. (Ref.: <https://www.deccanherald.com/national/as-centre-changes-policy-congress-says-universal-free-vaccination-still-not-achieved-995004.html>.)
Full text of the Prime Minister's complete "address to the nation": <https://www.narendramodi.in/prime-minister-narendra-modis-address-to-the-nation-555691>.
Full text of Guidelines: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/RevisedVaccinationGuidelines.pdf
Now, the hint - in ANI tweet extracted the following three lines when enclosing the guideline..
Vaccine doses to be allocated to States/UTs based on population, disease burden & vaccination' progress. Wastage will affect allocation negatively
Vaccine doses provided free of cost by Government of India will be allocated to States/UTs based oncriteria such as population, disease burden and the progress of vaccination. Wastage of vaccine will affect the allocation negatively.
The price of vaccine doses for private hospitals would be declared by each vaccine manufacturer, and any subsequent changes would be notified in advance. :
Within the population group of citizens more than 18 years of age, States/UTsmay decide their own prioritization factoring in the vaccine supply schedule.
Sukla Sen 10th June 2021
Right now, this is the status:
Covishield would be available to the Union Government at Rs.150 per dose, to the state governments at Rs. 300 per dose and to private hospitals at Rs.600 per dose.
For Covaxin, the corresponding rates would be Rs.150, 400 and 1,200.
There's no announcement to the effect that the price to be paid by private enterprises June 21st onwards would be any different.
Moreover, caps on the prices that the private enterprises can charge an individual have been fixed.