New Delhi: Several state governments have stepped up to the challenge to save livelihoods as well as lives and announced free vaccination as the country faces an unprecedented task to protect every citizen amid the surge in Covid-19 cases.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said the cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 13.83 crore today as part of the world’s largest vaccination drive.
Over 29 lakh vaccination doses were administered in the last 24 hours, the ministry said in a release earlier in the day.
Telangana:
The Telangana Government has decided to provide the vaccine free of cost to all four crore people in the state irrespective of their age. The state government will spend Rs 2,500 crore on this mission, which also includes those who came to Telangana and are working here in various sectors.
Haryana:
The Haryana Government has declared that it would be providing free vaccines to everyone above 18 years of age at the government hospitals in the state. The registration for the same will begin from April 28 and only those who have registered will get the vaccine.
Jammu and Kashmir:
The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Saturday decided to provide free Covid jabs to all the eligible beneficiaries and fully borne the vaccine cost. The vaccination will be free of cost to the people in the 18-45 years age group.
Jharkhand:
Chief Minister Hemant Soren-led government in Jharkhand has announced free Covid-19 vaccination to the people above 18 years of age. Asserting the government is working day and night to help the people in this drastic transition, Soren made the announcement earlier on Thursday stating “corona will lose, Jharkhand will win”.
Goa:
The Goa Government on Thursday announced to inoculate those between the ages of 18 to 45 against the coronavirus free of cost. The government added the state will be procuring five lakh doses of Covishield initially. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said Goa will offer free of cost vaccination to people above the age of 18 years, when the mass vaccination programme rolls out for all citizens of major age from May 1.
Madhya Pradesh:
The government of Madhya Pradesh earlier announced free vaccination for all citizens above 18 years of age in their state from May 1. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who made this announcement, said “we will take every measure to ensure all safeguards for our citizen”.
Kerala:
The Kerala Government will provide the coronavirus vaccine free-of-cost to all those above 18 years of age, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said earlier on Wednesday. He also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central Government to give vaccines to the states for free as they are already under financial burden due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bihar:
The Bihar Government on Wednesday announced that it will provide free coronavirus vaccination to all aged above 18 years. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who made the announcement, said the state government will bear the cost of administering jabs to all citizens of the state above 18 years of age beginning May 1.
Sikkim:
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang earlier on Wednesday announced the state government will provide free COVID-19 vaccine to all citizens between 18 to 45 years. Tamang asked state’s Chief Secretary SC Gupta to prepare the details in this regard. He said the state government will bear the cost of the vaccines if the Centre does not bear the cost.
Chhattisgarh:
Chhattisgarh will provide free Covid vaccine to all its adult population, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said earlier on Wednesday. Underlining all possible steps will be taken to “protect the lives of our citizen”, he said the state government will pay for corona vaccination for people over 18 years of age.
Uttar Pradesh:
The Uttar Pradesh Government earlier on Tuesday announced free Covid-19 vaccine for all above 18 years of age from May 1. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who said the state government will take forward the vaccination programme with its own resources.
Assam:
The Assam Government too announced to vaccinate everyone in the 18-45 age group in the state for free from May 1 onwards. Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who made this announcement, said the donations received last year for Covid management will be utilised for the purpose.