VACCINES

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A final decision on Kerala purchasing vaccines on its own from Pharma companies will be taken today. The committee formed under the chief secretary will convene its first meet on Monday. The committee had conducted discussions with the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech for the vaccines. The panel discussed the availability of vaccines with the pharma firms.

The high-level panel will take a final decision in this regard, on the basis of the replies received from pharma firms. The health secretary, additional chief secretary of the finance department are the other members of the panel headed by the chief secretary.

Last day, 1,94,427 persons who had earlier registered online were vaccinated. Now only 3,30,693 doses of vaccines are in stock. In the midst of this, the state government is also puzzled over the stand to be taken on the union government’s decision to distribute vaccines to those between 18-27 via private medical centres.

If one lakh vaccine doses are distributed per day, then the stocks will be depleted within three days. That means the state government has no clue on how to continue the vaccination drive post-Wednesday.

As of now, the number of vaccination camps in every districts has come down. The registration until Saturday has been fulfilled. Now, the vaccination drive could be continued only if new stocks of vaccines arrive. It is under this condition, the state government was forced to buy vaccines on its own.

Youth requires Rs 1100 crore

Kerala must find Rs 1100 crore, to vaccinate the youth in the state. There are 1.38 crore people in the state between 18-45. With the centre’s discriminatory stand that states must bear the cost of vaccinating those between 18-27, the state governments have received another blow as most of them are reeling under the covid induced financial crisis. If the vaccines declared by the Serum Institute of India at the rate of Rs 400 for government hospitals is not received on time, then the price of vaccines are likely to spike further.

The centre which declared to ensure free vaccination for all, also earmarked Rs 35,000 crore for this purpose. It has also assured that more money will be allocated if needed. Now, by transferring the responsibility of vaccination to the states, the centre is moving away from the assurance that it has given to the parliament. The centre has decided to initiate Rs 12,000 crore as external borrowings in the name of the vaccination programme.

Whereas the registration for the vaccination programme for those between 18-27 will commence from the day after tomorrow. The inoculation drive will start on May 1st. Though the state was puzzled over the distribution of vaccines via private medical facilities, the centre corrected it later. Now the centre says that states can purchase and distribute those vaccines via government hospitals. This issue will be discussed in the all-party meet to be held on Monday.

CPM and Congress hold the view that the centre must distribute the vaccines free of cost. Whereas BJP which alleged that the central policy on vaccines is being misinterpreted by the states, also said that those who can pay for vaccines must be allowed to do so.