No lockdown in Bengal, says CM : jabs for 18 and above from May 5: Mamata questions vaccine price disparity, will write to Modi

No lockdown in Bengal, says CM; jabs for 18 and above from May 5

Mamata Banerjee.:File picture

---

Arnab Ganguly   | TT  |  Calcutta   |  21.04.21: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said she would write to the Prime Minister about the discrepancy in price of vaccines being supplied by Serum Institute of India to the Centre, states and private hospitals.

“I will write to the Prime Minister on this. Why would the private sector have to pay more? In a situation like this, should one look for profits or help the afflicted?” Mamata said while addressing the media.

“We have given around 93 lakh doses so far. Our target is another one crore, for which we are asking the Centre to supply. The rest we will buy from the market,” the chief minister said. She also said that the Bengal government had secured an additional Rs 100 crore for the vaccination programme.

Mamata announced that the universal vaccination programme would start in Bengal from May 5, three days after the Assembly election results are announced. The Centre has opened up the vaccination programme to everyone above the age of 18 from May 1.

The privately-run Serum Institute had announced earlier in the day that prices for vaccines produced by the company was fixed at Rs 400 for states and Rs 600 for the private hospitals . The Centre, hwoever, woul dget to buy the vaccine at Rs 150.

The Serum Institute’s decision to have different prices has raised questions on how it would prioritise supplies? Would the highest payer—in this case  private hospitals—be given priority over state-run facilities?

Although the Centre had announced that those above 18 would be eligible to get the vaccine from May 1 (the current age limit is 45 years and above), a statement issued by the ministry of health and family welfare made it clear that states would have to procure vaccines on their own for those between  18-45.

The second wave of Covid has led to a scarcty of medical resources across the country. Oxygen and medicines for treating Covid-19 patients are in short supply but BJP leaders in different parts of the country have been tomtoming their availability at their offices.

Last week, Gujarat BJP chief C.R. Patil had distributed around 5,.000 doses of Remdesivir, for which the Gujarat High Court  issued a notice on Tuesday.  East Delhi MP Gautam Ganbhir tweeted on Wednesday, notifying party supporters of another drug available at his constituency office.  

“People of East Delhi can get Fabiflu from MP office (2, Jagriti Enclave) for FREE between 10-5. Kindly get Aadhaar and prescription,” Gambhir tweeted.

In Trinamul-run Bengal, Mamata admitted there was a scarcity of medical supplies. “This is a disaster. Even in calamities we work. Emergency is emergency. We have our responsibilities, and we have to make arrangements. There is scarcity of oxygen. We are also trying to stop illegal stocking and profiteering,” she said.

The chief minister, who also handles the health portfolio, said in Bengal, around 6,793 Covid-19 patients were at various stages of treatment in state-run and private hospitals, while another 51,593 Covid patients were recuperating at home in isolation. “We have 11,000 beds and will add another 2,000 beds by Friday. There are 3,888 patients in government hospitals and 2,905 patients in private hospitals,” Mamata said.

The chief minister ruled out any possibility of a lockdown in Bengal.

“I can tell people to be cautious., I can ask them to wear masks, but I cannot tell them to stop their work, businesses and stay at home,” she said.