Raipur, 7 June 2021. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of free vaccination is a delayed decision. He said that how the central government will make continuous supply of vaccine, this is the biggest challenge.
The Chief Minister said that we had made an announcement in the budget session in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly that we will do free vaccination to every person in Chhattisgarh. The central government made arrangements for free vaccination for health workers, frontline workers and above 45 years of age, but when it came to the age group of 18 to 44, they left it to the states, even then the Chief Ministers of all the states asked the Prime Minister. Free vaccination was demanded, but they did not listen. Later, the states made arrangements for vaccination from their treasury.
The Chief Minister said that the main problem is the supply of vaccines. We received only 9 lakh 38 thousand 530 vaccine doses in Chhattisgarh from May 1 to June 7. This has been the pace of providing the vaccine. When the vaccine itself is not able to provide, then how will the dose be taken. He said that the allegations being leveled against the states are wrong.
It is worth mentioning that till now 1.5 crore vaccine doses have been ordered by the Health Department of Chhattisgarh Government to both the Covaccine and Kovishield vaccine manufacturing companies, against which 14 lakh 18 thousand 700 dosages (11 lakh 66 thousand 630 Kovishield doses and 2 lakh) have been placed so far. A total of Rs 47 crore 34 lakh has been paid for 52 thousand 70 vaccine doses.
Against this, till now 9 lakh 38 thousand 530 doses have been received for the age group of 18-44 years in which 1.5 lakh Covaccine dose on 1st May 2021, 3.5 lakh dose Kovishield Vaccine on 8 May 2021, 2 lakh 97 thousand 110 Dose Kovishield Vaccine 15 On May 2021 and 1 lakh 41 thousand 420 doses of Kovishield vaccine have been received on 5 June 2021. Till June 6, about 8 lakh 31 thousand 281 beneficiaries in the age group of 18-44 years have been vaccinated (Covaccine and Kovishield Vaccine).
