Centre concerned with slow vaccination rate, asks states to take measures

New Delhi : The Central government on Tuesday raised concerns over declining rate of coronavirus vaccination and asked the states to take measures to ensure all adults get vaccinated.

The direction came at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Health Secretary Shri Rajesh Bhushan with Health Secretaries and senior immunization officials of 15 states and union territories of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana through video conference.

Nodal representatives from Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute of India (SII) were also present at the meeting.

Mr Bhushan reviewed procurement and administration of coronavirus vaccine by private hospitals.

He termed the slow pace of vaccination through the Private COVID Vaccination Centers (PCVCs) a cause of serious worry.

“Many Private COVID Vaccination Centers (PCVCs) have not placed any indent for the earmarked quantum of COVID vaccines. Many State Governments need to facilitate the vaccine procurement by the PCVC,” the Centre said in a statement.

“In some states, the quantity of vaccines paid for has not been physically lifted by the states or PCVCs. They have to quickly ensure lifting of dispatched doses,” it added.