The politics of vaccines

Direct criticism for scarce or expensive vaccines at the government, not the private sector

Many months later than would have been wise, the Union Cabinet has taken steps to increase the supply of vaccines. Last week, it announced a new set of regulations governing the third phase of the vaccine rollout. These included the opening up of the private market in vaccines; allowing state governments to purchase vaccines directly; and allowing all those above 18 access to vaccines through channels other than the existing one supervised by the Union government. That channel will have the right to half the vaccines produced, and it will pay the concessional rate that had earlier been agreed upon