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Vaccination programme going slow, alleges Rahul Gandhi in letter to PM
Questioning if export of vaccines was also an “oversight like many other decisions of this government”, the Congress leader slammed the Centre for bypassing the states “right from vaccine procurement to registration”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday saying the Covid-19 vaccination was going on at a snail’s pace in the country as less than 1% of the population has been vaccinated in three months. He sought the availability of vaccines on the basis of demand a day after Modi defended the country’s vaccine strategy at a meeting with chief ministers.
“Our vaccination programme has to move beyond an individual’s picture on the vaccine certificate, towards guaranteeing maximum vaccination,” Gandhi wrote in an oblique reference to Modi’s photo on the vaccine certificates. Gandhi questioned whether the export of vaccines was also an “oversight like many other decisions of this government”.
The government this month blamed oversight as it rolled back the decision to cut interest rates on small savings schemes to an over four-decade low.
In his letter, Gandhi slammed the Centre for bypassing the states “right from vaccine procurement to registration”. “Additionally, a large section of the poor have been excluded due to the initial mandatory online registration,” he said.
Gandhi suggested the vaccine suppliers be provided with the necessary resources to increase manufacturing capacity. He sought an immediate moratorium on vaccine exports and a fast-track approval of other vaccines as per norms and guidelines. Gandhi also suggested that the central allocation for vaccine procurement be doubled from the existing ₹35,000 crore.
“Give state governments a greater say in vaccine procurement and distribution and provide direct income support to the vulnerable sections in the disastrous second [Covid-19] wave,” he said.
In a series of tweets, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said India is not facing vaccine starvation, but Gandhi is facing attention starvation. “Why has Rahul Gandhi not yet taken vaccine? Is it an oversight or he doesnt want it or has he already taken one in many of his undisclosed trips to foreign locations but doesnt want to disclose?” he tweeted.
“After failing as a part-time politician, has Rahul Gandhi switched to full time lobbying? First he lobbied for fighter plane companies by trying to derail India’s acquisition programme. Now he is lobbying for pharma companies by asking for arbitrary approvals for foreign vaccines.”
Prasad said fighting a pandemic is not a one-trick game. “Apart from vaccination, there needs to be adequate focus on testing, tracing & treating. Rahul Gandhi’s problem is that he doesn’t understand all this and his ignorance is compounded by his arrogance,” he tweeted.
Gandhi demanded that the vaccination programme be opened to everyone who needs it. “Our scientific community and vaccine suppliers worked overtime to develop a solution, but their efforts are undermined by the Centre’s poor implementation and ‘oversight’,” he wrote.
On Thursday, Modi backed the current vaccination plans and told states that vaccines would be distributed in priority areas. Earlier this week, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan virtually ruled out the Congress’ demand to give vaccines to those who ask for them. Bhushan said the vaccines will be given to those who need them.
Modi on Thursday said that India’s vaccine strategy is similar to other nations. He added some states cannot be prioritised over others while slamming critics. “Those who have the habit of doing politics, let them do so. I have faced much criticism, but we remain committed to serving the people,” he said.
Gandhi highlighted the slow rate of vaccination and added it would take years to vaccinate 75% of the population if the vaccination rate is this low. “This will have catastrophic effects and will gravely decelerate India’s economy.”
Gandhi blamed the government for “irrationally exporting vaccines” and hit out at Union health minister Harsh Vardhan over his “intemperate” statements against valid vaccine demands by state governments as the nation faces a “vaccine starvation”.
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Vardhan on Thursday reiterated there was no vaccine shortage, and the country has over 43 million doses in stock or in the pipeline. He called for “an end to fear-mongering”.
Vardhan’s comments came as states like Maharashtra, where Congress shares power, said they were running out of coronavirus vaccines and were forced to shut inoculation centres.
To be sure, while overall supplies may be there at the state level, individual centres may run out of stock on account of how the states manage their replenishment.
Gandhi questioned the export of vaccines and called the move “an effort to garner publicity at the cost of our citizens”. He questioned Modi’s “cooperative federalism” claim and added the Centre’s “individualised propaganda and centralisation” have deprived the states of their rights to procure vaccines. Gandhi added that the Congress party takes “immense pride in making the country a vaccine hub over last 70 years”.
