BOOM

Trending Searches

    SUPPORT
    BOOM

    Trending News

      • Fact Check 
        • Fast Check
        • Politics
        • Business
        • Entertainment
        • Social
        • Sports
        • World
      • Law
      • Explainers
      • News 
        • All News
      • Decode 
        • Impact
        • Scamcheck
        • Life
        • Voices
      • Media Buddhi 
        • Digital Buddhi
        • Senior Citizens
        • Videos
      • Web Stories
      • BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos 
        • Facts Neeti
      • Home-icon
        Home
      • About Us-icon
        About Us
      • Authors-icon
        Authors
      • Team-icon
        Team
      • Careers-icon
        Careers
      • Internship-icon
        Internship
      • Contact Us-icon
        Contact Us
      • Methodology-icon
        Methodology
      • Correction Policy-icon
        Correction Policy
      • Non-Partnership Policy-icon
        Non-Partnership Policy
      • Cookie Policy-icon
        Cookie Policy
      • Grievance Redressal-icon
        Grievance Redressal
      • Republishing Guidelines-icon
        Republishing Guidelines
      • Fact Check-icon
        Fact Check
        Fast Check
        Politics
        Business
        Entertainment
        Social
        Sports
        World
      • Law-icon
        Law
      • Explainers-icon
        Explainers
      • News-icon
        News
        All News
      • Decode-icon
        Decode
        Impact
        Scamcheck
        Life
        Voices
      • Media Buddhi-icon
        Media Buddhi
        Digital Buddhi
        Senior Citizens
        Videos
      • Web Stories-icon
        Web Stories
      • BOOM Research-icon
        BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs-icon
        BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker-icon
        Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos-icon
        Videos
        Facts Neeti
      Trending Tags
      TRENDING
      • #Operation Sindoor
      • #Pahalgam Terror Attack
      • #Narendra Modi
      • #Rahul Gandhi
      • #Waqf Amendment Bill
      • #Arvind Kejriwal
      • #Deepfake
      • #Artificial Intelligence
      • Home
      • Health
      • Health Secretary Contradicts PM...
      Health

      Health Secretary Contradicts PM Modi's Remarks On Vaccine For All Citizens

      PM Modi has on two separate occasions said that every citizen in India will receive the COVID-19 vaccine

      By - Shachi Sutaria |
      Published -  3 Dec 2020 2:58 PM IST
    • Boomlive
      Health Secretary Contradicts PM Modis Remarks On Vaccine For All Citizens

      Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan's recent statement that the government never spoke of vaccinating the entire country contradicts earlier remarks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi - who on two separate occasions said that a COVID-19 vaccine will be given to every Indian.

      In a press briefing for COVID-19 on Tuesday, Bhushan claimed that the government never spoke about vaccinating the whole country.

      Although it is scientifically sound to say that not everyone requires vaccination; Bhushan's statement about universal vaccination never being spoken about is not true.

      The health secretary was responding to the question how long will it take to vaccinate the entire country?



      News wire agency ANI reported Bhushan's remarks on Wednesday. In the replies to ANI's tweet several Twitter users asked why was this not clarified earlier.

      I just want to make this clear that the govt has never spoken about vaccinating the entire country. It's important that we discuss such scientific issues, based on factual information only: Health Secretary on being asked how much time it will take to vaccinate the entire country pic.twitter.com/cZeEQr8Pvw

      — ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2020

      What PM Modi Said About Universal Vaccination:

      Prime Minister Narendra Modi has on two separate occasions said that the government is ensuring that every citizen will receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

      On October 20, 2020 in a televised address, Modi emphasised that as soon as any vaccine is available for use in the country, the government will work to ensure that the vaccines reach every citizen. He further assured that each and every citizen will be able to access the vaccine.

      "India is working on several vaccines currently, some of which are in advanced stages. Friends, whenever the vaccine will be available, the government is preparing to ensure that every citizen can access the vaccine as soon as possible. Work is underway to ensure that each and every citizen can access the vaccine." - Prime Minister Narendra Modi

      (Bharat mai abhi corona ki kai vaccine par kaam chal raha hai. In me kuch advanced stage par hai. Saathiyo, corona ki vaccine jab bhi aayegi, woh jald se jald pratyek Bhartiya tak kaise pahunche, iske liye bhi sarkar ki taiyari jaari rahegi, ek ek nagrik tak vaccine pahunche iske liye teji se kaam ho raha hai.)

      (Watch the video below)

      Also Read:Bill Gates Did Not Say COVID-19 Vaccine Would Kill 7,00,000 People


      While in the video, Modi talks about access, but in an interview with the Economic Times published on October 29, he mentions vaccinating the entire country. When asked about the plan for vaccination, Modi mentioned that 'none will be left behind'.

      "First and foremost, I would like to assure the nation that, as and when a vaccine becomes available, everyone will be vaccinated. None will be left behind." - Prime Minister Narendra Modi

      He also added that it will be according to the priority groups planned by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration headed by Dr. VK Paul but reassured that every citizen will get the vaccine.




      Bihar Poll Promise

      Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, as a representative of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, on October 22, announced free COVID-19 vaccines for every citizen in Bihar while releasing the party's election manifesto.

      "As soon as a COVID-19 vaccine is available for production at a mass scale, every person in Bihar will get free vaccination. This is the first promise mentioned in our poll manifesto."


      As soon as #COVID19 vaccine will be available for production at a mass scale, every person in Bihar will get free vaccination. This is the first promise mentioned in our poll manifesto: Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the launch of BJP Manifesto for #BiharPolls pic.twitter.com/x4VjVmkA3Q

      — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2020


      Also Read:BJP Promises Free COVID-19 Vaccine In Poll-Bound Bihar: What We Know

      The BJP was criticized for using COVID-19 vaccines as an election agenda. Amit Malviya, the BJP's IT Cell Head had even tweeted defended the move by stating that health is a state subject

      BJP's manifesto promises free Covid vaccine. Like all programs, center will provide vaccines to states at a nominal rate. It is for the state Govts to decide if they want to give it free or otherwise. Health being a state subject, Bihar BJP has decided to give it free. Simple.

      — Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) October 22, 2020

      Following this announcement, several other ministers from Tamil Nadu, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, and Puducherry also announced that they would be providing COVID-19 vaccines for free to all their citizens.

      Why Everyone Need Not Be Vaccinated:

      In spite of the backlash, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan is correct in stating that the vaccine need not be given to everyone.

      Dr. Balram Bhargava, Director General ICMR, who was present at the press conference explained the rationale behind the thinking. "Our purpose is to break the chain of virus transmission. If we are able to vaccinate a critical mass of population and break the chain of transmission, then we may not have to vaccinate the entire population," Bhargava reasoned.

      This phenomenon is called herd immunity. While the Johns Hopkins University has estimated that if 70 per cent of the population develops natural antibodies or gets vaccinated, the spread of the virus can be stopped, the World Health Organisation is more optimistic. Chief Scientist Dr. Sowmya Swaminathan has mentioned that according to the WHO, a 50 per cent immunity level will halter the spread of the disease.

      Also Read:Explained: How Can Herd Immunity Be Achieved

      Along with herd immunity, it is also important to understand that even though the vaccine is meant for healthy individuals, there are not enough doses so far to administer it to every citizen in the world. Most of these vaccines require double dosages. Most leading vaccine manufacturers have pledged to produce over 200-400 million doses till the end of 2021. Several such as Serum Institute of India are also a part of the WHO's COVAX- Act Accelerator that aims to distribute the vaccine equitably among low- and middle-income countries.

      Several high-income countries such as US, UK, Canada have already purchased doses more than their population but they will not receive them at one go.

      Age, health, area which a person resides in will also play a key role when the government chalks a plan for vaccine distribution after it has vaccinated the 30 million people it intends to vaccinate in the first phase. The elderly and people living with comorbidities will be prioritised to receive the vaccine. Containment zones, Sero-surveys to understand the spread of the disease will further help in determining who will receive the vaccine.

      (Note: The story has been updated to include the video with the question the health secretary was responding to)

      Tags

      MOHFWNarendra Modirajesh bhushanMinistry of HealthIndiaCOVID-19
      Read Full Article
      Next Story
      Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
      Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker. Please reload after ad blocker is disabled.
      X

      Subscribe to BOOM Newsletters

      👉 No spam, no paywall — but verified insights.

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe for free!

      Stay Ahead of Misinformation!

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe Now🛡️ 100% Privacy Protected | No Spam, Just Facts
      By subscribing, you agree with the Terms & conditions and Privacy Policy connected to the offer

      Thank you for subscribing!

      You’re now part of the BOOM community.

      Or, Subscribe to receive latest news via email
      Subscribed Successfully...
      Copy HTMLHTML is copied!
      There's no data to copy!