Centre should admit the COVID-19 vaccine shortage in the country: Ashok Gehlot

The Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said that Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan was making statements, which were false

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said that the Central government should accept the existence of COVID-19 vaccine shortage in the country and should avoid making false statements.

The Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said that Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan was making statements, which were false. He alleged that the government didn’t earlier accept the oxygen shortage prevalent in the country.

“Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan should avoid making false statements. When the country was struggling with lack of oxygen, they were saying that there is enough oxygen in the country. Today, when there is a shortage of vaccines in the country, they say that there are 10 million vaccines available in the country,” he tweeted.

Ashok Gehlot went on to state that on April 2, 42 lakh vaccines were administered across the country, but now only 16 lakh vaccines are being administered daily.

“Vaccination centers are being closed at different places in the country. Such statements by the Health Minister are creating resentment among the public,” he added.

Taking a dig at the Centre, he tweeted, “But if we take all the states together, one crore vaccines will be finished in just one day.”

It is pertinent to mention here that, according to Chief Secretary Niranjan Arya, the state has an adequate supply of oxygen.

The state presently has 25 Oxygen plants sanctioned by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).

On Tuesday, the chief minister directed for an audit of Covid deaths in the state, so that the true number of Covid and non-Covid fatalities may be determined and a decision can be made on social security benefits for families of Coronavirus victims.

According to an official source, the COVID-19 death toll in Rajasthan increased to 7,911 on Tuesday, with 105 additional deaths.

In regards to COVID-19 immunization, Gehlot stated that efforts should be taken at all levels, including collaboration with the Central government, to ensure vaccine availability for the state’s young population.

He believes that comprehensive immunization might help avoid the pandemic’s third wave.