Centre to bear the cost for phase one of vaccination, PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that in the First Phase, the Covid vaccine will be given to the health workers and other frontline workers and the cost of vaccination for these first phase three crore people will be borne by the Central Government. Interacting with the Chief Ministers of all states on Saturday prime minister Modi informed that In the Second Phase, those above 50 years and those under 50 years with co-morbid conditions will be vaccinated.  He said, the experts have taken all precautions to provide the countrymen with effective vaccines. He said, the government has made necessary preparations for patients, if the COVID vaccine shows any side-effects.

The Prime Minister said, the discussion and cooperation between states and Centre has helped a lot in the fight against COVID and we have presented a good example of federalism. Prime Minister said that COVID-19 pandemic has not spread in India on that scale, which is being seen anywhere else in the world. He said it is a result of working together by standing unitedly during COVID crisis as well as quick decisions which were taken with full sensitivity. Modi urged all States and Union Territories to ensure that rumours around the vaccination programme are not allowed to spread. He said,

 Modi took stock of COVID-19 situation and discussed vaccination roll out programme. He said, two vaccines Covishield and Covaxin, which are made in India, have been granted approval for emergency use. He said, both the vaccines are cost-effective. Apart from these two vaccines, four others are in the pipeline. corporate competition and vested interests of certain lobbies within and outside the country may be at work to fuel the rumours. The Prime Minister remarked that the most important factor in this vaccination drive is identification and monitoring of those who need to be vaccinated. For this, Co-Win digital platform has been created.

During the meeting, Home Minister Amit Shah said that the country has performed better than most of the other countries in facing COVID under the leadership of the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers. He added that the coordination displayed by the states in this endeavour till now should also continue in the vaccination drive as well.