Let us procure vaccines, we can vaccinate faster: DK Shivakumar tells Centre

As Karnataka struggles to procure vaccines, the state’s Congress Committee chief DK Shivakumar appealed that the Centre allow his party to directly approach vaccine makers across the world.

Karnataka has suspended vaccination for 18-44 years age group from May 14 due to vaccine shortage. The state recently floated global tenders for jobs with regard to local manufacturing. Calling out the state for its tardiness, Shivakumar appealed the Centre and the state government to not only let Congress directly procure vaccines but also run inoculation drives.

The Congress leader shared his party’s 100 crore plan saying the state unit has strategised to finance a drive with 90 crore from Congress MLA/MLC funds and 10 crore from the state unit’s fund. The plan is to further raise money from public donations and administer jabs by parterning with hospitals and clinics. Shivakumar dared that his party could launch and run a successful drive better than the Modi-Yediyurappa government.

The Congress chief has also demanded that the Centre bear the entire cost of the national drive, owning to the financial burden that the states are facing due to the lockdowns.