All Citizens Across Country Will Get Free COVID-19 Vaccine: Union Minister Pratap Sarangi

Bhubaneswar: Union Minister Pratap Sarangi said on Sunday that everyone in the country will get free COVID-19 vaccine and not only in poll-bound Bihar as declared by the ruling BJP.

The ruling party’s announcement of free COVID vaccine in Bihar which goes into Assembly polls this week had sparked a huge controversy with opposition tearing into NDA for using the pandemic for political gains.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman though had said the announcement was in order as it was an election manifesto announcement, according to news agency PTI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared that all people will be provided free vaccines. An estimated ₹ 500 odd will be spent on each person’s vaccination, Sarangi said after addressing a campaign meeting for the November 3 Balasore by-poll.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation on October 20, said that Indian scientists are in the process of developing several vaccines that are at different stages of clinical trials and the results seem encouraging, according to the news agency.

Union minister of state for animal husbandry, dairy, fisheries and micro, small and medium enterprises, Sarangi replied to a question asked by Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister, RP Swain.

“I am asking questions to two Odisha union ministers from Balasore soil to clarify as to why the people of the state will not get free of cost COVID vaccine. The union ministers should clarify BJPs stand on the corona vaccination in Odisha,” Swain had tweeted.

Swain, however, did not specify whether the state government will provide the vaccine free of cost.