NEW DELHI: A Covid vaccine may still be a while, but promises of free vaccination are already pouring in in every state. Hours after the BJP election manifesto for Bihar offered free coronavirus vaccination to everyone if the NDA retained office, at least two states, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, promised to vaccinate all citizens for free, while a third, Madhya Pradesh, reserved his commitment for the poor.
Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami was the first to leave, promising free vaccination for all as a mass-produced vaccine became available.
DMK Chairman MK Stalin immediately accused the CM of “trying to show off,” saying it was the responsibility of any government to protect people during a pandemic by making critical vaccines available at no cost.
“EPS didn’t have the courage to offer a 5,000 rupee subsidy to ordinary people who lost their livelihood (during the shutdown),” he said. With the by-elections to 28 seats in parliament just 11 days away, Prime Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan jumped on the train Thursday night and announced that it would be free for the poor.
“BJP has said something very good in Bihar. And I am saying the same here. Let the corona vaccine come, all the poor of MP will be given the vaccine for free,” he said at an election event in Gwalior. At around 9:30 p.m., he took to Twitter to reiterate the promise, inviting criticism from Congress.
In Karnataka, the vaccine would be free for everyone as long as it is commercially available, said Pankaj Health Commissioner Kumar Pandey. The state minister for health and family welfare, K Sudhakar, said the state was working with experts on an action plan for the distribution of the vaccine, including determining which vulnerable groups should be covered first.
Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami was the first to leave, promising free vaccination for all as a mass-produced vaccine became available.
DMK Chairman MK Stalin immediately accused the CM of “trying to show off,” saying it was the responsibility of any government to protect people during a pandemic by making critical vaccines available at no cost.
“EPS didn’t have the courage to offer a 5,000 rupee subsidy to ordinary people who lost their livelihood (during the shutdown),” he said. With the by-elections to 28 seats in parliament just 11 days away, Prime Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan jumped on the train Thursday night and announced that it would be free for the poor.
“BJP has said something very good in Bihar. And I am saying the same here. Let the corona vaccine come, all the poor of MP will be given the vaccine for free,” he said at an election event in Gwalior. At around 9:30 p.m., he took to Twitter to reiterate the promise, inviting criticism from Congress.
In Karnataka, the vaccine would be free for everyone as long as it is commercially available, said Pankaj Health Commissioner Kumar Pandey. The state minister for health and family welfare, K Sudhakar, said the state was working with experts on an action plan for the distribution of the vaccine, including determining which vulnerable groups should be covered first.
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