Arvind Kejriwal inaugurates free walk-in COVID-19 vaccination facility for journalists, their families

New Delhi:Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal on Monday inaugurated the free of cost walk-in vaccination facility for journalists and their families at Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, DDU Marg, ITO. The newly launched facility will vaccinate journalists and their families of both age groups, 18-45 years and 45+ years. He appealed to all the journalists to get themselves and their families vaccinated at the centre.

He also said that the need of the hour is to vaccinate more and more people at a faster pace to protect them from Corona. He appealed to the Central government to fight Corona together as Team India. He said that based on the experience of the last 1.5-2 months, it has become apparent that states are not able to procure vaccines on their own despite all attempts, and the Central government should do it. He also said that procurement, production, and distribution of the vaccines is the responsibility of the Central government and administering the vaccines to the people is the responsibility of the state governments.

Dy CM Shri Manish Sisodia also accompanied the CM for the inauguration of the vaccination centre.

Addressing the media following the inauguration of the facility, CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, "This vaccination centre has been especially started to vaccinate journalists and their families. I am happy that this facility has been launched and the demands of the journalists have been met. This facility will vaccinate journalists and their families of both age groups, 18-45 years and 45+ years. Vaccination is the need of the hour to protect yourself from Coronavirus. I appeal to all the journalists to come here and get themselves vaccinated for free."

"We will rectify whatever issues the people are facing. I observed that the portal was facing some issues today. We are working towards resolving those and all the other issues based on the feedback of the people," he added.

Addressing the issue of black fungus cases in Delhi, CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, "There are 300 cases of Black Fungus in Central government hospitals and around 650 in Delhi government hospitals. However, the supply of injections is low. We had received 1000 injections the day before yesterday, but did not receive any injections yesterday. It takes 3-4 injections per person per day." 

"If we do not vaccinate people at a faster pace and as soon as possible, how will we ensure vaccination for all our people and protect them from Corona?" said the CM when asked about the pace of vaccination.

He said, "Sputnik will probably offer vaccines after 20th June. They will start the vaccine production from the month of August. They are importing the vaccines right now, and they will allot a section of their imported vaccines to the Delhi government." 

"I believe that this is not the time to do politics. This is the time to help the states and fight Corona together. This does not suit the Central government. I appeal to the Central government to realise that this is the time to fight Corona, together as Team India," added the CM.  

On the question of states being held responsible for the procurement of vaccines, Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, "How will the states procure the vaccines? It has been 1.5-2 months since the Centre had announced that States should float the tenders. There are 36 states and UTs, every state and every political party has tried its best to procure the vaccines by filing global tenders.

They could not procure a single vaccine injection on their own until now. It has become apparent that states are not able to procure vaccines on their own and the Central government has to do it. States should be held responsible if and when they are not able to make proper arrangements to administer the vaccines after the Centre has procured, produced and supplied the vaccines to us. Thus, I feel that procurement, production, and distribution of the vaccines is the responsibility of the Central government, and administering the vaccines is the responsibility of the state governments." 

On the uncertainty of availability of Covaxin, CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, "I hope that second doses will be administered as soon as possible to the ones in need as soon as the Covaxin is available."