The Karnataka Congress on May 14 announced that it has prepared a Rs 100 crore plan to procure COVID-19 vaccines directly from manufacturers for people of the state.
The party said it would like to be allowed to directly approach vaccine makers across the world and procure them.
The announcement comes after the BS Yediyurappa-led Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Karnataka temporarily suspended the Covid-19 vaccination for the age group of 18 to 44 years from May 14, due to a shortage in supply.
“Since Modi and BS Yediyurappa government have failed to vaccinate most of Karnataka months after vaccine manufacturing began, Karnataka Congress has decided to be ready to vaccinate people ourselves,” the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President DK Shivakumar told media, adding that the party needs immediate permission to procure vaccines.
“My appeal to the BJP to not let politics come in the way and in the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat allow Congress to directly procure and administer vaccines,” he said.
The vaccine procurement rules in India allow central and state governments, hospitals, and industries to directly procure vaccines, he said
“We have Rs 100 crores plan, to begin with, Rs 90 crores from Congress MLA/MLC funds and Rs 10 crores as per Karnataka Congress’s commitment from party funds. More money will be raised from public donations and by tying up with hospitals and clinics to administer jabs,” Shivakumar said.
The Congress leader said that the party wants to show ‘Modi-Yediyurappa’ that it is possible to quickly vaccinate the masses. “We just need permission to procure and to use MLA/MLC development funds to buy vaccines. Since they can’t do it, they should let us do it,” he said. Shivakumar later shared the comments on Twitter too.
He alleged that the government has failed to protect the people and vaccinate people. “The Karnataka government is only now floating global tenders with regard to local manufacturing. Had these initiatives been taken months ago, so many lives would have been saved,” he said.
From May 14, the Karnataka government has temporarily suspended the Covid-19 vaccination for the age group of 18 to 44 years, the state health department said in a statement.
"The state government has decided that the vaccine procured directly by the state for vaccination of persons between 18 to 44 years will be utilised for vaccination of beneficiaries who are due for second dose,” the Karnataka health department had said in a statement.
“In this regard vaccination for the 18 to 44 age group (including those who have already booked appointments) will be temporarily suspended from May 14 till further orders,” it added.
The state government has announced floating a global tender for procuring two crore COVID-19 vaccines.
On May 13, Karnataka, witnessing a surge in number of infections, reported 35,297 fresh COVID-19 cases and 344 deaths, taking the total number of infections to 20,88,488 and death toll to 20,712.
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