Almost rejecting requests of two non-BJP ruled States’ Chief Ministers—Delhi and Maharashtra—seeking relaxation over age limit for the vaccine, the Centre on Tuesday ruled out Covid-19 vaccination for all, stressing that the aim is not to administer the shot to “those who want it but to those who need it so as to prevent deaths and protect the healthcare system”.
During a press conference here, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that many people are asking why isn’t the Government opening up vaccination for all those above 18 years.
Bhushan said that even Western countries have conducted the vaccination drive in phases.
“The basic aim is to reduce death through vaccination. The other aim is to protect your healthcare system. If healthcare workers, doctors, nurses, paramedics and others fall sick, who will work in hospitals? So the aim, for any country, is to protect those who are the most vulnerable. The aim is never to administer the vaccine to those who want it but to those who need it,” Bhushan said.
NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul said the narrative has to be seen in a scientific way. He questioned, “When we talk about opening vaccination to all, our focus reduces on controlling the pandemic. Did you hear of any country that is vaccinating less than 45.”
So far, nobody doing vaccine research has shown that if given on this scale, it leads to herd immunity, he said, adding that it is not yet scientifically proven.
“What we know so far is that all vaccines that are being used, including the two being used in ,India reduce mortality, severity of the disease, protect lives and keeping that in mind priority groups have been decided,” Dr Paul said.
He said that priority groups have been decided who are vulnerable to mortality.
“Because history will only remember how many deaths have taken place. Globally, the vaccine is finite,” Dr Paul underlined. Talking about vaccines, the Health secretary said, “We administered 43 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine in 24 hours yesterday, which is a record. As a result of today morning, we administered 8.31 crores doses of the vaccine”.
The officers also referred to guidelines in countries like America, Australia and UK for phase-wise vaccination. “The UK had 9 different groups in its phases. Switzerland is vaccinating only those above 65,” Dr Paul said, adding, “When our history is written our deaths will be the most important count.”
The Indian Medical Association had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting that vaccination be allowed for all people above the age of 18 years.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Maharashtra counterpart Uddhav Thackeray too on Monday requested Modi to relax the age limit for the vaccination.
