New Delhi: Amid the increase in cases of coronavirus in the country, the Modi government at the centre has given a free hand to the states regarding the purchase of the vaccine. The central government has now instructed the state governments to buy vaccine doses directly from manufacturing companies. However, until now, the vaccine doses for the states were provided by the central government itself.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), in a high-level meeting called during PM Narendra Modi's visit on Wednesday, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan made it clear that the state governments have been advised to take the vaccine on their own. For this, the state governments can directly contact the vaccine manufacturers. In the meeting, the Health Secretary said that the states do not need any prior permission from the Union Health Ministry to get the vaccine from the manufacturing companies. Along with this, private hospitals in the states can also buy the vaccine directly from the manufacturing companies.

So far, two initial shots for people above 12 years of age and booster doses for the elderly, health workers, and frontline workers have also been provided free of charge to the states by the central government. After this, for 75 days from July 15, the facility of free booster khurad was also made available to people aged 18 to 59 years.

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