Will provide free COVID-19 vaccine to Delhiites if Centre fails to do so: CM Arvind Kejriwal

KEY STORY

• New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wants Centre to provide free vaccine to the people of Delhi.

• I had appealed to Central government that vaccination should be provided free of cost to all, said the CM adding that if Centre does not do it and a need arises, the vaccine will be provided for free to people of Delhi.

• Talking to the media, the CM said he has already appealed to the Centre for providing free vaccination in the country as there are many people who may not afford the lifesaving jab.

  ‘Free vaccine to people of Delhi if the Centre fails to do so’

   

• Urging the people not to spread rumours about the vaccine, the CM said that the Centre and scientists brought the vaccine following all the protocols and safeguards, so, there should not be any doubt and people should come forward for vaccination.

• The coronavirus vaccine will be given first to healthcare and frontline workers with vaccination drive set to begin in Delhi from Saturday at 89 centres.

• Earlier this month, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) gave final approval to two COVID-19 vaccines – Covishield and Covaxin.

• The vaccines received Emergency Use Authorisation (EAU) and according to Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, they have been tested on thousands of people and side-effects are negligible.

• Calling the two vaccines as the “safest” he said there is no risk of any significance.

  ‘Don’t spread rumours about the vaccine’

• India is all set to start the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive from January 16.

• The Central government is having close collaboration with states and union territories for vaccine roll-out, said Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan.

• Earlier, the CM had termed the coronavirus pandemic as the biggest epidemic of the century, saying it is very important to protect the people from this.

• Taking to his Twitter, the CM said: “I request the Central Government that the vaccine should be provided free of cost to all countrymen. The expenditure on this will be helpful in saving the lives of many Indians.”