Health Minister Rejects Covid-19 Vaccine Shortage Claims, Says Pointless Statements Being Made To Create Panic

Union Health Minister categorically stated that all states and Union Territories have been informed well in advance about the number of vaccine doses to be sent to them for July.

Mansukh Mandaviya while taking charge of office, in New Delhi, Friday, July 9, 2021. (PTI)

New Delhi: Expressing ire over several states complaining about Covid-19 vaccine supply shortage, newly appointed Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday said pointless statements are being made to create panic.

“The leaders who are making statements, that could create confusion and concern, need to introspect whether they have are at so much distance from the governance process that they are not having vaccine supply-related information prior hand,” he tweeted in Hindi.

READ: Coronavirus LIVE: Sputnik Light Vaccine To Be Launched Soon, Says Russian Envoy

Mansukh Mandaviya categorically stated that all states and Union Territories have been informed in advance about the number of vaccine doses to be sent to them for the month of July.

“Regarding the availability of the vaccine, I have come to know from the statements and letters of various state governments and leaders. This situation can be better understood by an actual analysis of the facts. The pointless statements being made only create panic among people,” he tweeted.

The Health Minister informed that 11.46 crore vaccine doses were made available to the states and Union territories in June and added this availability has been increased to 13.50 crore this month.

“To enable vaccination process through government and private hospitals 11.46 crore vaccine doses were made available to the state governments and Union Territories in the month of June and this availability has been increased to 13.50 crore in the month of July,” Mandaviya posted on the micro-blogging platform.

“The Central government had informed the states on June 19, about how many doses of the vaccine would be made available in the states in July. After this, on June 27 and July 13, the states were informed in advance about the availability of vaccines for the first and second fortnights of July,” he added in his tweet.

He said that the states know very well when and in what quantity they will get the vaccine doses.

“The Central government has done this so that the state governments can do the work of vaccination up to the district level by planning properly and people do not face any problem,” he added.

The Health Minister also questioned “mismanagement and long queues” of vaccine beneficiaries being seen outside vaccination centers in many states despite the Central government giving information in advance about the vaccine supply.

“If the Centre is already giving this information in advance and yet we see mismanagement and long queues of vaccine takers, then it is very clear what the problem is and who is the reason for it,” he tweeted.

Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry informed that more than 39.59 crore vaccine doses have been provided to the states and Union Territories so far through all sources and a further 30,250 doses are in the pipeline.