Assam to use Rs 100 crore of public contribution to buy COVID vaccines

GUWAHATI: The Government of Assam will be using the Rs 100 crore contributed by the public to buy vaccine doses for the public if the Centre does not agree to bear the entire cost. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Assam, said that the Centre will only bear the cost of the 2.9 lakh registered beneficiaries under the two categories – healthcare workers and frontline workers of the state, who will be vaccinated in the first two phases starting from Saturday.

In the third phase of the vaccination drive, people above 50 years of age and people with comorbidities will be vaccinated. After these three drives, vaccination will be carried out for the general public. Sarma said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has so far said that the Centre will be bearing the cost of the first two phases of vaccination. Who will bear the cost of the third and further phases is unclear.” He went on to say that even if the Centre asks the States to bear a certain percentage of the costs of the vaccine, say 30 to 59 per cent, the Government of Assam is ready.

‘The people of Assam had donated to the Assam Arogya Nidhi during the peak of the pandemic to help the state government in ensuring protective measures and minimising the spread of the virus. “We have kept that amount separately in a fixed deposit and will be utilising it now to buy vaccines for the people. Whatever extra is needed, the state government will contribute,” Sarma said.