Coronavirus | Tamil Nadu urges Centre to procure and supply COVID-19 vaccines to States

CM says it was the States’ legitimate expectations, as budgetary provision of ₹35,000 crore was made in the Budget Estimates

Terming the Centre’s policy in Phase 3 of the COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country as “inherently unfair,” Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting that the Centre procure and supply the entire required quantity of COVID vaccine for administering all groups, including those in the age group of 18-45. In his letter, a copy of which was released to the media, Mr. Palaniswami referred to the Centre’s policy, which has given the to the people in the age group of 18 to 45 years. “Such a differential price mechanism is inherently unfair since it places a higher financial burden on States. It is also iniquitous since the State governments have considerably less fiscal resources at their command than the Central government,” he said.