Delhi CM Kejriwal pens letter to PM to remove the age limit on vaccination

New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking relaxation in the rules pertaining to the opening of vaccination centers and removing the age limit on vaccination, in view of controlling the fast-rising cases of COVID-19 across the country, including Delhi.

He wrote, "The increase in the rate of transition of Corona across the country has presented new concerns and challenges. The vaccination campaign needs to move more rapidly in this context. If rules for opening new centers are simplified and everyone is allowed to be vaccinated irrespective of age, then the Delhi government can vaccinate all Delhi residents within three months. In the fight against Corona, the Delhi government has had the support of the Center at every step."

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has expressed faith in the Prime Minister and hopes that he will look into what is said in the letter and respond in the affirmative.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in his letter to the Prime Minister, said, "It is a matter of great pride that India has developed an effective vaccine in record time owing to the brilliant talent and hard work of its scientists, experts, and doctors in the global war against the COVID-19 pandemic. It has earned great praise for Indian scientists, experts, and doctors from all over the world." 

He wrote, "The past few weeks have seen a rapid increase in the transition of Corona in various areas of the country. This has presented new concerns and challenges, particularly to the vaccination campaign. The rapid spread of infection between immunization campaigns in this way suggests that we must move the vaccination campaign forward in a more swift manner.

This needs to be done at two levels - First, there is an urgent need to increase the number of vaccination centers. For this, the pre-conditions placed by the Centre regarding vaccination centers need to be relaxed. For example, according to the instructions of the Central government, vaccination centers can only be set up in hospitals or dispensaries. Initially, this was done to ensure that if someone had an adverse reaction to the vaccine, they could be treated immediately in the hospital.

The vaccination drive in the last three months has shown that the vaccine is safe. It is, therefore, requested that this condition be removed so that large-scale vaccination centers can be built in schools, community centers, and other places. It will be necessary to take precautions to ensure these relaxations do not put the citizens in harm's way and the Delhi government will ensure that it takes all necessary precautions. In this instance, for example, arrangements for ambulances, etc, will be made at every centre."

"Second, it should be made available to everyone by removing the age limit to immunization. Except for those who cannot get vaccinated medically, we should start vaccinating everyone. This will remove the hesitation among people and increase the number of people getting vaccinated. The more people get vaccinated, the more we will be able to reduce the spread of the disease," he added.

The Chief Minister emphasized in his letter, "If the rules for opening new vaccination centers are simplified, everyone is allowed to be vaccinated irrespective of age, and vaccines are provided in appropriate quantities, then the Delhi government will administer the vaccine to all residents of Delhi within 3 months. The Delhi government is fully prepared for this."

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal further added, "Vaccination has to be organized as a war-level effort in the fight against Corona. I hope the support that the Centre had extended to Delhi would continue and you would respond positively to my request."