Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced a centralised vaccine policy, taking the corrective measure after a countrywide outcry and a Supreme Court observation that the government’s policy was “arbitrary and irrational”.

Modi made the announcement in an address to the nation but not before he played politics to the hilt, seeking to blame the states, the Opposition and critics for the mess that has widely been termed as a result of the central government’s lack of foresight.

“We have decided that the 25 per cent (vaccination) work that the states were to do will be done by the Centre now,” Modi said at the end of the address that lasted a little over half an hour, effectively returning to a policy the country had followed since independence.

“From June 21, the Government of India will provide free vaccines to all states for the 18-plus-year-old people,” he added.

Modi said the central government would now directly buy 75 per cent of the vaccines from the manufacturers and give it to the states.

The remaining 25 per cent, he said, will be left for private hospitals to buy directly from the manufacturers.

India… needs a clearly defined, inclusive & equitable vaccine access strategy ensuring availability, affordability & fair distribution. GOI must do it now

Rahul Gandhi, August 14, 2020

The Prime Minister said the private hospitals could add a “service charge” up to a maximum of Rs 150 over the cost price per dose.

The announcement meant the Modi government had made a partial U-turn from its April 19 decision that stipulated the states and private players would have to buy directly from the manufacturers for those aged between 18 and 45.

The old policy had invited scathing criticism from the states, Opposition parties and several medical experts. Most recently, the Supreme Court had called the policy “arbitrary and irrational”.

On Monday evening, Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted: “Back in February 2021 and multiple times thereafter, I’d written to the PM stating our longstanding demand to provide vaccines to ALL for FREE. Took him 4 months but after much pressure, he has FINALLY listened to us and implemented what we’ve been asking all this while.”

Back in February 2021 and multiple times thereafter, I’d written to the PM stating our longstanding demand to provide vaccines to ALL for FREE. Took him 4 months…

Mamata Banerjee

Mamata added: “The well-being of the people of India should’ve been prioritised since the very start of this pandemic. Unfortunately, this delayed decision by PM has already cost many lives. Hoping for a better managed vaccination drive this time that focuses on people and not propaganda!”

Modi, however, sought to pin the blame on the states and Opposition parties for the faulty policy, claiming it was the states that had wanted a decentralised vaccine policy. In independent India, all vaccine procurements before Covid have been undertaken by the Centre although health is a state subject.

But, cast in the unfamiliar role of having to eat crow, the Prime Minister appeared to be seeking to give the impression that his government was now stepping up and taking over a job the states had been unable to cope with.

Modi said his government had taken charge of all matters related to Covid until the demands for decentralisation, which were raised as the cases dipped after the first wave.

“As cases dipped, different kinds of suggestions were made. Questions were asked as to ‘why everything was being handled by the Centre, why state governments were not given freedom’…,” Modi said.

We call upon the central government to immediately launch a free mass vaccination programme across the country

Joint Opposition, May 2, 2021

He claimed that questions had been raised over the age criteria fixed by the Centre for the vaccination campaign, including why senior citizens were being given preference. He said a section of the media ran a campaign and added that various kinds of pressure was built on his government to give freedom to the states.

Modi sought to underscore that his government had succumbed to pressure and asked the states to handle the vaccination for the 18-45 age group. But then the states began to urge the Centre to take responsibility, he suggested.

“Soon, the states began saying that the previous system was better. The ones who were asking for the states to take up vaccination changed their stand,” Modi said, without taking any names.

The real reason for the change in stand, apart from the widespread criticism, appeared to be feedback the BJP had received from the ground after the election defeat in Bengal and the challenge posed by next year’s polls in five states, sources in the BJP said.

Party insiders said the perceived mismanagement during the second Covid wave had scarred the Modi government’s image and there were jitters over the Uttar Pradesh polls, due early next year.

The Modi government’s announcement on Monday about buying and giving free vaccines to the states came after a series of meetings by the RSS and the BJP to take stock of the situation.

On Sunday evening, Modi had held a five-hour meeting with BJP chief J.P. Nadda and general secretaries of the party after a two-day stock-taking of the poll preparations for the five states.

The RSS and the BJP fear that a third Covid wave could sully their image further and cost them at the hustings.

After Modi announced the altered vaccination policy, ministers, chief ministers and party leaders went all out to thank and hail the leader, betraying a sense of relief and hope that the new measures would help them change perceptions and calm people’s anger.

In his address, Modi announced the continuation of the scheme to provide free food grains to the poor till Diwali this year.

“The government has decided that the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana will be extended till Diwali. In this pandemic, the government stands by the poor,” he said.

Sticking to his penchant for taking all the credit, Modi claimed that his government had worked in “mission mode” to scale up vaccination coverage in the country.

“In 2014, when we took charge, vaccination coverage in India was just 60 per cent. We found it a matter of big concern,” he said.

“At this rate, it would have taken 40 years for universal coverage,” he added, without specifying which vaccines he was referring to.

He indirectly slammed the Opposition for raising “misleading” doubts over the Indian-made vaccines.

“Imagine what the situation would be if we didn’t build the capacity for manufacturing vaccines in the country,” he said.

Modi sought to suggest that had India lacked vaccine-manufacturing capacity, it would have taken decades to achieve Covid vaccination, adding that in the past, it had taken decades for polio, smallpox and hepatitis B vaccines to arrive in India.