Urgent need for ‘vaccine universalisation’ and ‘vaccine nationalism’, says AAP leader

Chadha accused the Central government of indulging in “diplomatic adventurism” by exporting over 64 million doses of vaccine.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressing the urgent need for “vaccine universalisation” and “vaccine nationalism” to deal with a shortage of vaccine doses being faced in several States across the country. Mr. Chadha said that he was writing in his capacity as a representative of young India and an elected legislator, and accused the Central government of indulging in “diplomatic adventurism” by exporting over 64 million doses of vaccine to 84 countries, and “overlooking and neglecting the fundamental rights” of its citizens to basic healthcare and protection by vaccination against COVID-19. “Government of India has chosen to export over 64 million doses to 84 countries while Indian citizens are desperately looking for a vaccination centre that is still open. I wish to ask the government of India as to what its priority is — the people of Delhi or of Dominican Republic? The people of Maharashtra or of Mauritius? The people of Bengal or Bangladesh? Gujarat or Guyana? Odisha or Oman? Uttar Pradesh or United Kingdom? Kerala or Kenya?,” Mr. Chadha said in his letter.