Will provide vaccine free of cost, promises EPS

Presiding over the review meeting of COVID-19 control in Pudukkottai district during his visit, Palaniswami expressed satisfaction about the measures taken by the officials to control the spread of virus.

Stating that the spread of COVID-19 was on the decline in the State due to the measures taken by the Department of Health and the other officials as well, the Chief Minister said, “Tamil Nadu is in the forefront of bravely combating the spread of the disease compared to the neighbouring states like Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Even developed nations have been struggling to overcome the pandemic.”

Meanwhile, he also said that the successful coordination of all the officials yielded fruit in Tamil Nadu and has helped control the mortality rate and the number of cured cases have also been increasing day by day. He assured that all the people of Tamil Nadu would be administered the vaccine for COVID-19 free of cost once it is made available. He added that the State government has established adequate testing centres and beds and made prompt treatment available on time that resulted in control of infection across the state and the spreading of the virus.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has last week said India is expected to have a COVID-19 vaccine in a few months and the country should be in the process of delivering it to people in the next six months. Presently COVID-19 vaccines are in various stages of trials.

DMK president MK Stalin on Thursday said that it was the duty of a government to distribute vaccine free of cost. Taking exception to Palaniswami’s statement, Stalin said, “It is the duty of a welfare government to provide vaccine free of cost to protect people during a pandemic. Palaniswami assumes that the duty is a great concession he offers.” It is disgusting to see the CM project himself as a magnanimous person by announcing free vaccine when he has no inclination to distribute Rs 5,000 to helpless people who have lost their livelihood, Stalin tweeted.