Rahul Gandhi calls for immediate halt on vaccine exports

New Delhi:  Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling for vaccinations to be opened up to "ever...

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling for vaccinations to be opened up to "everyone who needs it". He has also called for an immediate halt on vaccine exports, predicting "catastrophic effects" on the economy if inoculations continued at the current pace. The Congress leader also urged the government to fast-track other vaccines.

"Our vaccination programme has to move beyond an individual's picture on the vaccine certificate, towards guaranteeing maximum vaccination," he wrote in the letter on Friday.

The efforts of the scientific community and vaccine makers had been undermined by the "Centre's poor implementation and oversight", the Congress MP said.

"At our current vaccination rate, it will take years to inoculate 75 per cent of the population. This will have catastrophic effects and will gravely decelerate India's economy," he warned.

Gandhi also raised questions on India shipping vaccines to other countries at a time its domestic needs were pressing, with a record rise in infections in the second wave of Covid-19.

"There is no clear reason as to why the government permitted largescale exports of vaccines. While our nation is facing vaccine starvation, more than six crore doses of vaccine have been exported," he said.

"The state governments are repeatedly highlighting vaccine shortages only to receive intemperate statements by the Union Health Minister targeting opposition-ruled states, undercutting cooperative federalism, which you too have stressed as essential."

Gandhi wondered whether the vaccine exports were also an "oversight" to gain publicity at the cost of citizens.

The Congress MP wrote to the PM against the backdrop of a record surge in Covid cases and a fierce row between the Centre and some states over vaccine supply. He said in the letter that states had been "bypassed" right from vaccine procurement to registration.

Gandhi also urged Modi to give states a greater say in procuring and giving vaccines. (Agencies)