Vaccine Woes: Jagan Seeks Support Of His Counterparts

After having invited global tenders for supply of anti-Covid vaccine, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has written letters to his counterparts in the country regarding the same.

Over 9 states, including AP and Telangana, invited global tenders for the vaccine but unfortunately, not even one bid was received by the authorities, he lamented.

He urged the CMs of all states to be united and represent the issues being faced in availability of vaccines together to the Centre to ensure safety of public in respective states.

In the letter written to his counterpart in Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, Reddy mentioned that not even one bid was received on supply of vaccine. He mentioned that the authorisation of global tenders rested with the Centre.

With regard to supply and availability of vaccine, the situation is gradually changing to Centre Vs States, the CM said and urged the chief ministers of all states to help each other in this regard.

Medical experts felt that the Centre should help all the states without any bias in getting the vaccine. In the wake of allegations that the Centre is helping BJP-ruled states in getting adequate doses of vaccine and neglecting others, there are suggestions that the central authorities should understand the problems of all the states in procuring the same and work in coordination with them to resolve their problem.

At the same time, the states should also ensure that the vaccine vials are not wasted. With health experts making it clear that vaccination is the only way to beat the virus, the focus should be on making the vaccine available to the states at the earliest possible.