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Bloomberg
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced free shots for all adults in an address to the nation, a move prompted by criticism of his administration’s handling of India’s deadly second virus wave and a botched vaccination roll out.
In a half hour-long address on national television, Modi said all Indians above the age 18 will be vaccinated for free starting June 21, vowing to speed the inoculation drive. His administration will also procure the shots for states, reversing an earlier policy of
asking provinces to compete for
supplies for certain age categories.
The move to centralise vaccine procurement will come as a relief to Indian states that are strapped for funds.
Modi’s speech came against the backdrop of a near breakdown in health infrastructure over the last two months, with major Indian cities running out of oxygen and hospitals flooded with patients.
as crematoriums struggled to keep pace with the number of those who died from Covid-19. His government’s ratings have fallen from 75% in 2019 to 51% this year, according the LocalCircles polling company survey released May 29, in one of the first indications that Modi’s enduring popularity with voters may be fading.