Maharashtra: ‘Free inoculation is Centre’s call’

PUNE: State health minister Rajesh Tope said it was too premature to announce free Covid vaccination in the state. He added that it would be best if the Centre took a decision on the matter after a vaccine was approved.

“The Union government should take a uniform decision on vaccine distribution. States will abide by that decision,” he said.

The governments of Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Puduchchery have announced vaccines will be free of charge within their jurisdictions. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has demanded the shots be free across the country.

Tope said such announcements should ideally come from the Centre, which is already monitoring vaccine manufacturing and distribution. “It should provide more clarity on pricing, instead of states releasing announcements on their own,” he said.

The minister added that five vaccines were currently being discussed for India, but it still wasn’t clear which one would be approved first — a factor that will impact pricing.