No vaccine shortage:states politicking their failures, Hashvardhan

Centre has slamed the Opposition-ruled state governments for their alleged attempts to distract attention from their failure to manage the Covid-19 pandemic. In the letter, health minister Dr Harshvardhan said that the irresponsible statements by some state functionaries were spreading panic among the people. The "lackadaisical attitude" of the Maharashtra government had singularly bogged down the entire country's efforts to fight the virus, he said in his statement. Stating that he wanted to set the record straight, he wrote: "I am constrained to speak out now because my silence should not be misconstrued for weakness. Playing politics is easy, but improving governance and health infrastructure is the real test."

Refering to Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Delhi government's demand to open vaccination for all adults, Harsh Vardhan said that the Centre has been frequently and transparently updating all the state governments about the demand-supply dynamics and the resultant vaccination strategy that has been adopted. “In fact, the vaccination strategy has been drawn up after extensive deliberations and consultations in partnership with all state governments,” he said. “When states ask to open up vaccine supplies to everyone over 18, we must presume that they have done saturation coverage of healthcare workers, frontline workers and senior citizens. But the facts are altogether different,” Harsh Vardhan said.

According to Harshvardhan Maharashtra has vaccinated just 41 per cent of healthcare workers with second dose, Delhi 41 per cent and Punjab 27 per cent. There are 12 Indian states/UTs that have done more than 60 per cent, Maharashtra has vaccinated only 73 per cent frontline workers with first dose and 41 per cent with the second. The figures for this in Delhi are 71 per cent and 22 per cent, and in Punjab 65 per cent and 20 per cent. There are six Indian states/UTs that have done more than 45 per cent. When it comes to senior citizens, Maharashtra has vaccinated just 25 per cent, Delhi has vaccinated 30 per cent and Punjab has vaccinated only 13 per cent. There are four states/UTs that have already vaccinated more than 50 per cent.

The minister claimed that the Maharashtra government has not made any effort during the pandemic despite regular assistance from the Centre.“Today, Maharashtra not only has the highest cases and deaths in the country but also has one of the highest test positivity rates in the world! Their testing is not up to the mark and their contact tracing leaves a lot to be desired,” he said. "It is shocking to see how the state Government is putting Maharashtrians in danger by letting people escape institutional quarantine mandate for the sake of their personal Vasuli."

The Health Minister also attacked the Chhattisgarh Congress government, saying it had refused to use Covaxin, and, by its actions, "had the dubious distinction of being perhaps the only government in the word to have incited vaccine hesitancy." “Their testing remains heavily dependent on rapid antigen tests, which is not a wise strategy,” he said. The minister said that mask-wearing and social distancing compliance were slack in a large number of states.