Harsh Vardhan rules out vaccine for all, slams Maharashtra, Punjab, Delhi

New Delhi, April 7

Ahead of the PM’s review meeting with the CMs on Thursday, the Centre today hit out at Maharashtra, Punjab and Delhi for seeking jabs for all adults, terming the move as “deplorable attempts to distract from their failures to control the pandemic.” Health Minister Harsh Vardhan asked the three high-burden states if they had saturated the vaccine coverage of current beneficiaries to be asking for expansion of the drive.

Ruling out vaccines for all, the Health Minister said so long as the vaccine supply was limited, there is no option but to prioritise.

Terming as “alarming” the failure of these three states to respond to the pandemic and then to seek vaccine for all above 18 (Delhi, Punjab) or reduction in the age criterion (Maharashtra), Vardhan said, “These are deplorable attempts to distract from failures.” The minister trashed Maharashtra’s vaccine shortage claims. — TNS