Chief Minister, Hemant Soren has announced free vaccination will be given for COVID-19 to all residents above 18 years of age, of Jharkhand
“In Jharkhand, the corona vaccine will be provided free of cost to people above the age of 18 by the state government,” Soren said in a tweet on Thursday night.
“The government is working day and night to help people in this drastic transition. I am confident that with the cooperation of all, we will beat corona again. Corona will lose, Jharkhand will win,” he added.
Mr Soren’s statement came after the centre announced a “liberalised” policy making all adults above 18 years of age eligible to get inoculated from May 1 and allowing state governments and private hospitals to purchase vaccines from manufacturers.
“The government is working day and night to help people in this drastic transition. I am confident that with the cooperation of all, we will beat corona again. Corona will lose, Jharkhand will win,” he added.
Opposition parties alleged that the policy implies that the central government has abdicated its responsibility to provide free vaccines to citizens between the age group of 18 and 45 years.
Prior to this, the governments of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh and Kerala have announced free vaccinations for all above 18-years.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Kumar also stated on Wednesday that all residents above the age of 18 will be vaccinated free of cost from 1 May.
Following this, Goa said on Thursday that it will be vaccinating all its residents between the ages of 18-45 for free. “I am pleased to convey government approval to provide Covid vaccine doses to all populations in the age group 18-45 through the state government free of cost,” state additional secretary (health) Vikas Gaunekar said.
