The timeline for the 2nd phase of COVID vaccination was announced by the Centre on Wednesday and it will begin from March 1. While the announcement was on the cards for a few days, there was an intense speculation-mixed wish whether the vaccine for the next intended priority group will be made free or not. It has been partly met since the private facilities which will be part of the process will charge fees. Details in this regard are still awaited and it remains to be seen what the fee structure is going to be. But, it will always be the citizens’ expectation that it stays within the normal financial capacities of the people. The Central government, among ‘other things’ must ensure it at the outset.
The 2nd phase of the Covid vaccination challenge will enter a more critical path than the initial one due to its sheer size. It will be 9 times of the first priority group (27 crore) and will encompass persons above 60 years of age plus those above 45 with associated comorbidities. Around 10,000 government along with over 20,000 private vaccination centres will be earmarked and that in the former it will be available free of cost is in expected lines as it has been the norm for immunization programmes currently available in the country. Given the strong presence and wide outreach of private healthcare entities in the overall public health scenario in the country, there is no alternative but to include them in the Covid vaccination goals. Going strictly by the prevailing practicalities there is no doubt the existing government healthcare infrastructure alone will not be able to cater to this massive exercise. The urgency for inoculating a gigantic waiting population fast is increasingly being felt as there still are additions of around 13000 and 100+ deaths on a daily basis and a fear over invasions by new strains of the virus has surfaced. The affected states which have by now taken to normalcy have been forced to reimpose the preventive measures. With such a milieu of uneasiness, for making the 2nd phase of vaccination clutter-free, the governments, both the Centre and the states must ensure a thorough discipline with strong vigil on the ethical part. Overcharging by private facilities, as has been the case while conducting Covid tests mustn’t be tolerated and any attempt to create artificial shortage of vaccines should be dealt with iron hands. Along with the price structure which is expected to be announced within the next few days, the Union Health Ministry must essentially include these SOPs too for the private players with an emphasis on stock-related transparency.
Profiteering in a critical moment like this must be banned. In a welfare state the ‘people’s first’ vision ought to prevail over all else. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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