"Why Not One Nation One Price" Congress Counters Centre's Vaccine Policy

New Delhi- Yesterday, the centre launched its vaccination policy explaining the nature of pricing and the age group it is going to be administered to. The Congress party today responded to the policy with an attack as to why the prices of the vaccine different for the centre and the states while adding that the vaccination prices should not be higher for the states. 

Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram countered the vaccination policy announced for the 18 and 45-year-olds by stating, "We have no problem in vaccine manufacturers in making profits, but the Centre cannot abdicate its responsibility," and added, "You want one nation one market, etc. Why can't we have one nation one price?" 

As per the new policy, the vaccine manufacturers will require to supply 50% of the produce to the centre and the remaining could be sold to the state and the open markets freely. 

Congress President Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter questioning by cant the vaccinations be free for 18 to 45-year-olds. He tested positive for the virus today. 

"No free vaccines for 18-45 yr olds. Middlemen brought in without price controls. No vaccine guarantee for weaker sections. GOI's Vaccine Discrimination - Not Distribution Strategy," he said in a tweet.

P. Chidambaram took to Twitter by saying that since the states are already burdened by shrinking GST revenues, lower tax devolution, and reduced grants-in-aid, the heavy price of the vaccine will further add to the burden. 

"Meanwhile, nobody knows where the thousands of crores of rupees collected under PM CARES being deployed," Chidambaram added. 

The centre has started vaccinating the age group of 18 and above because, unlike the previous strain, the new mutant strains have the ability to infect younger people. 

Health experts from around the globe have immensely stressed the importance of vaccinations and the need to boost up the vaccination drive as a key measure to combat the spread of this deadly infectious disease. 

Meanwhile, as of Monday, India recorded more than 2.59 Lakh fresh new cases of the novel coronavirus taking the tally of the caseloads to more than 1.53 crores. In the last 24 hours, India reported 1,761 new fatalities, marking it the biggest spike in the numbers of COVID fatalities recorded in a single day taking the death toll of the country which now stands at 1,80,530.

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