It’s fine for the centre to authorise a dry run of the COVID-19 vaccine assessing the linkages between planning and implementations, and thus locating the challenges in the stages of final vaccination drive. I appreciate and acknowledge Union Health Minister, Harsh Vardhan, for his efforts and initiative in this direction, but some clarity on the pricing of the vaccine will do us a good.
In this regard, the Centre, in consultation with the states, should recommend the formation of a task force for capping the costs of these vaccines across districts, towns, blocks and cities. Ensuring easy affordability and accessibility for the common and ordinary folk will make a difference in their lives.
The Centre is leading a task force in confronting the menace of this virus through its centralised system of action and command by being less accommodative of the aspirations of the states. But, why are CBMs (Consensus Building Measures) not being routinely worked out to encourage the visible presence and participation by the states? Giving a fair representation to their valuable proposals will definitely help in strengthening the vision and tenet of our federal character and composition.