Procure stockpiled vaccines from abroad, KTR tells Centre

Blames govt. of India for “ill-planned and ill-conceived” vaccination drive

The Centre should “wake up” at least now and the Prime Minister or the government should talk to the countries where Covishield (AstraZeneca) vaccines are “lying unused” and import them for quickening the pace of the vaccination drive in the country since it is the only solution to control the pandemic, said Information Technology Minister K.T. Rama Rao on Friday. Mincing no words, the Minister blasted the Centre for “ill-planned and ill-conceived” vaccination drive of not importing vaccines when required but resorting to exporting them. Later, the Centre announced opening up of vaccination for 18-44 age group “without any thought” about the supply constraints at a time when 263 crore doses were required for the programme. Mr. Rama Rao was speaking after inaugurating the 150-bed Intensive Care Unit project at Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (TIMS) at Gachibowli. It was sponsored by HYSEA (Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association) member companies — Microsoft, Qualcomm, Franklin Templeton, Cognizant and WellsFargo.