New Delhi: Terming as “absurd” the Centre’s decision to give COVID-19 booster shots only in private hospitals, the Congress on Saturday accused the government of “discriminatory” treatment and “gross injustice” to the country’s poor and rural population.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Union Health Ministry said people above 18 years of age who have completed nine months of taking the second dose will be eligible for precautionary doses at private centers that charge for the vaccines.
Questioning the decision, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said that countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan are also giving booster shots for free and accused the government of allowing profiteering by allowing private bodies to ‘sell’ the booster doses.
Congress questioned the Center for not allowing government hospitals to give COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to adults, alleging that its “absurd policy” is discriminatory and “gross injustice” to the country’s poor and rural population.
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News agency PTI said, “Why administer this booster dose only through private hospitals and there is no option to get it through government hospitals. Does this make sense? Is it a fair policy that government Hospitals will deal with this 18-60 years category.” Singhvi says.
The Congress leader further alleged that the private sector would earn crores of rupees at the cost of Indians who are already battling high prices and inflation.
“The sale of booster dose vaccines for the age group of 18-60 by private companies and entities has exposed the cruel, cunning and harsh nature of the BJP government,” Singhvi said, adding, “The decision on privatization of booster vaccine Bitter, cruel and barbaric. Unfortunately, the central feature of this new policy is discrimination by design.”
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, the Congress spokesperson further said, “Should the government perform its duty like this by transferring Rs. is it fair? Is this separation? Is it making two Indias? Is this creating discrimination? What is the understanding behind this absurd policy, already at the price level we stand at?
Notably, the Center is continuing the free immunization drive through government immunization centers for the first two doses as well as a precautionary dose for healthcare workers, frontline workers and people above 60 years of age.
Meanwhile, just a day before booster shots of the Covid-19 vaccine were made available to the adult population in India, prices of Covishield and Covaxin have been cut by more than half in private hospitals.
It has been decided that the cost of both the vaccines will now be Rs 225. Before the rate revision, Covishield was available for Rs 600 while Covaxin was priced at Rs 1200.
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