Free vaccine to those above 18 years, announces Tynsong

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 4, 2021

The Meghalaya government has decided to provide COVID vaccination free of cost to every citizen above 18 years of age.

Announcing this after a review meeting held on Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that the state government has already paid the manufacturing companies around Rs 1.26 crore for supply of over 42,000 doses of vaccines.

“The government has purchased the vaccines at a cost of Rs 300 each and the vaccination is for citizens of the age group 18 to 44 years,” he told reporters.

He said the vaccines will be arriving in the state within the next few days adding that the 42,000 doses of vaccines will be administered to over 20,000 people under this age group.

Asked about the concerns expressed over the delay to start the vaccination drive, Tynsong however said the situation is not under the control of the state government.

“In fact, the state government wanted to start vaccination tomorrow itself but the crisis (related to shortage of vaccines) is being faced by many states in the country. Luckily, we have paid for the purchase of 42,000 doses and we are accordingly waiting,” he said.

Stating that he has nothing to say about the private hospitals, the deputy chief minister said the purchase of the additional doses of vaccines are purely for the distribution to government hospitals.

“Due to shortage in the supply of vaccines, the Centre and manufacturers have decided that delivery of the same will be made to the concerned state governments,” he said.