Centre to provide free vaccines to states for 18+, starts from June 21

Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that vaccines will be provided by the centre free of cost to states for all people above 18 years of age. This starts from 21 June.

PM addressed the nation at 5 pm today and said that no state government of the country will have to spend anything on the vaccine as the Government of India will give free vaccines to all the citizens. After much deliberations, he said the government has decided 25 per cent of the vaccine responsibilities that were looked after by the state governments, will now be taken care of by the centre.

He said that even though the government will provide free vaccination, those who wish to pay for the same can get jabbed at private hospitals. 25 per cent of vaccines can be purchased by the private hospitals, he said. He added that private hospitals will charge Rs 150 per dose of vaccine after its fixed price.

Mr Modi said that the task of minoring it will remain with the state governments. He informed that seven companies are working on developing vaccines and three trials are in process. He also said that research is underway on nasal vaccines. Trails have been started to determine the safety of vaccines on children. Mr Modi said that apart from following Covid appropriate behaviour, vaccines are the only medium to protect ourselves from the virus. Made in India vaccines are saving lives across the world.

PM also informed that Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana has been extended till Diwali. In the time of the pandemic, the government is standing with the poor. Mr Modi said that free food grains will be available in fixed quantity every month to over 80 crore countrymen till November.