Centre-state war of words over vaccine!

Amid unprecedented surge, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope blames Centre for vaccine shortage, and counterpart Harsh Vardhan hits back

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday blamed the Maharashtra government for bogging down the country’s fight against COVID-19. The comments came after state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that Maharashtra is left with just three days worth of doses and the Centre is not sending more.

“We have only 14 lakh doses available. We need 40 lakh doses every week to administer six lakh doses daily. We aren’t getting enough,” Tope said, adding that the government is forced to shut vaccination centres due to shortage. Maharashtra has demanded vaccines for everyone above 25 years of age and sought 1.5 crore doses for the six most affected districts.

In his retort, Vardhan said Maharashtra not only has the highest number of cases and deaths but also one of the highest Test Positivity Rates in the world.

After complaints from Maharashtra and some other non-BJP ruled states, the Centre allowed administering of shots at workplaces with about 100 eligible beneficiaries from April 11 and asserted that there was no vaccine shortage. On Wednesday evening, news agency ANI, quoting government sources, gave the following numbers — supply of COVID-19 vaccines to Maharashtra: total supplied-1,06,19,190; in-pipeline-7,43,280; consumption-90,53,523.

“I have seen statements by public representatives in Maharashtra about the shortage of vaccines. This is nothing but an attempt to divert attention from the government’s failures to control the pandemic. Vaccine supplies are being monitored on a real-time basis, and state governments are being apprised regularly. 

Allegations of vaccine shortage are utterly baseless,” Vardhan said in a statement earlier in the day.

“I have been a witness to the misgovernance and utter casual approach of the Maharashtra government in battling the virus. The lackadaisical attitude of the state government has singularly bogged down the entire country’s efforts to fight the virus,” he said. 

“Doesn’t it seem evident that these states are trying to divert attention from their poor vaccination efforts by continuously shifting the goalposts?” said Vardhan in a statement.

“I have seen irresponsible statements from some state government functionaries in the context of the pandemic. As these statements have the potential to mislead the public and spread panic, it has become necessary to put the record straight,” he added.

‘Poor’ vaccination numbers

He said the most concerning statements are by a section of political leaders asking to open up vaccinations for everyone above the age of 18 years or to drastically lower the minimum age.

Vardhan said that the Centre has updated the state on the demand-supply dynamics and the resultant vaccination strategy. He said so long as the supply of vaccines remains limited, there is no option but to prioritise.

“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,” he said and targeted the ‘poor’ vaccination of healthcare workers.

According to Vardhan, Maharashtra has given the first dose to 86 per cent health workers. Ten states and union territories have crossed 90 per cent. For second dose, the rate in Maharashtra is 41 per cent healthcare workers and 12 states and union territories have crossed 60 per cent. Among frontline workers, Maharashtra’s first dose rate is 73 per cent while five states and union territories have crossed 85 per cent. Similarly, the rate of second dose for frontline workers in the state is 41 per cent, while six states and union territories have crossed 45 per cent.

Maharashtra has vaccinated 25 per cent senior citizens while four states and union territories have crossed 50 per cent.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!