Launch a free mass vaccination drive across the country: 13 opposition parties ask Centre

New Delhi: Leaders of as many as 13 opposition parties in a joint assertion have requested the Central authorities to launch a free mass vaccination drive across the nation in view of the unprecedented surge in COVID-19 circumstances. The signatories embody Congress president Sonia Gandhi, JDS chief and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee.

According to the joint assertion, “In times of the uncontrollable surge of the pandemic across our country, We call upon the Central government to focus all attention in ensuring the uninterrupted flow of Oxygen supplies to all hospitals and health centre across the country.”
 
“We call upon the Central government to immediately launch a free Mass vaccination programme across the country,” it stated, including “The budgetary allocation at Rs 35,000 crore for the vaccination programme must be utilised for this.” 

Notably, the lethal COVID wave claimed a report 3,689 extra lives and energetic circumstances crossed the 33-lakh mark in India as Haryana and Odisha joined a number of different states which were pressured to reimpose lockdown or comparable curbs with the intention to verify the surge amid a scarcity of hospital beds, medicines and oxygen for sufferers.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly reviewed numerous measures to reinforce human sources for efficient administration of the COVID-19 state of affairs and potential steps mentioned embody incentivising college students and pass-outs of medical and nursing programs to hitch the pandemic responsibility.

According to the Union Health Ministry, a complete of 86,023 beneficiaries in the age group of 18-44 years acquired their first dose of COVID vaccine across 11 states on May 1 when section 3 commenced. 

The an infection depend climbed to 1,95,57,457 with 3,92,488 extra individuals being confirmed constructive for the illness. States like Tamil Nadu and West Bengal recorded their highest every day rise in circumstances on Sunday. 

Meanwhile, the cumulative variety of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the nation has crossed 15.68 crores.

(With Agency Inputs)