Arvind Kejriwal Requests Centre To Provide Free Vaccine Amid "Epidemic Of Century"

Delhi CM demands free vaccination for all

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal requested the centre to ensure all Indians get vaccinated free of cost in view of the ongoing Corona virus pandemic.

Mr Kejriwal stated that "The coronavirus pandemic is the biggest epidemic of the century. It is very important to protect our people from this. I request the Central Government that the vaccine should be provided free of cost to all countrymen. The expenditure on this will be helpful in saving the lives of many Indians," tweeted in Hindi. The demand comes a week after from the state government announced a free COVID-19 move for all National Capital residents.

The AAP is the latest in an increasing list of political parties to demand free and mass vaccination for Indians, instead of only providing  it to priority groups like healthcare, frontline workers and those in the high-risk group as per the centre's plan. In December the centre's stand to not vaccinate the entire population and only high risk groups invited sharp criticism of opposition parties, like the Shiv Sena and Congress, especially after the BJP's pre-poll promise in Bihar of providing free vaccine for all in state if the party came into the power.

The opposition party had called the promise politicization of a necessity during a pandemic. Since then, some state governments including Kerala and Delhi have made a demand for free vaccination for all. Other states, particularly which are ruled by non-NDA parties, have also written to Prime Minister led Narendra Modi on the issue. 

The centre has allegedly that it would pay for the vaccines for healthcare and frontline workers, who are expected get the dose soon. If the centre allows the use of  two approved vaccines namely Covishield and Covaxin, either of the one would be commercially available in the middle of this year.