Spend energy in planning COVID-19 vaccine drive, not creating panic: Harsh Vardhan tells states

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday alleged that various leaders were making “irresponsible statements” about the COVID-19 vaccination drive and requested them to desist from the “shameless urge to play politics” in the midst of a pandemic. Taking to Twitter he urged these leaders to spend “more energy in planning and not in creating panic”. “I’m seeing irresponsible statements from various leaders regarding the largest vaccination drive. Stating facts so that people can judge intentions of these leaders. After GoI provided 75 percent of vaccines available for free, vaccination speed picked up and 11.50 crore doses were given in June,” Vardhan said in a tweet. He said if there are issues in states, it shows that they need to plan their vaccination drives better. “Intra-state planning and logistics are the responsibility of the states.” “If these leaders are aware of these facts and are still making such statements, I consider it most unfortunate. If they don’t know, they need to focus on governance. Will again request state leaders to spend more energies in planning and not in creating panic,” he said in another tweet. According to health ministry’s inoculation data published at 7 am on Thursday cumulatively 33.57 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive.