Ajay Shah and Amrita Agarwal say that the open market option for vaccines "will unlock the energy from varied Indian buyers — states, firms, communities, and individuals — and increase their accessibility to global supply." business-standard.com/article/opinio…
They have been arguing for some time now that "central planning has worked well for Covid-19 vaccination in countries like the US and the UK.... But central planning works poorly under conditions of low state capacity." blog.theleapjournal.org/2021/04/an-imp…
Then there's this Takshashila Discussion Document that says a government only channel will "will lead to corruption and pilferage and the vaccine will find new recipients through the black market... [which] will completely distort the market." takshashila.org.in/wp-content/upl…
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"The big issue, however, is more deep, and that has to do with the gigantic second wave of COVID-19 that is battering India. The BJP, which always sought the “party of governance” badge for itself, is now floundering on that score." - @nistulathehindu.com/elections/anal…
"The election showed the diminishing influence of community leaders in the electoral choice of the people. The LDF’s march was not slowed by the calls given by the leaders of the Church or Nair Service Society." indianexpress.com/article/explai…
Despite vaccination centres around the country running dry, and despite vaccination being opened to 18+, the Centre has not yet placed fresh orders with the two Indian vaccine manufacturers — SII and Bharat Biotech, according to multiple sources.
The last order placed with the two vaccine makers — 100 million doses with SII and 20 million doses with Bharat Biotech — was in March. Industry sources revealed that the final tranche of deliveries of this order will be completed within the next few days business-standard.com/article/curren…
"The Centre has indicated it would pay suppliers’ credit of Rs 3,000 cr and Rs 1,500 cr, respectively, to SII and BBIL."
People will take help from where they can get it right now.
(And it has seemed evident that, with thousands taking to Twitter for help, almost no one thinks tagging the PM or his Cabinet ministers will lead to real help. There may be many explanations, but no getting around it)
I find it uncomfortable that the court gets involved in deciding some of these policy issues, but extremely useful for the court to at the very least put questions to the Centre and have them put policies on record, since they aren't otherwise explaining to citizens.
How will manufacturers decide equity between states and the private sector?
It's been more than 10 days since the governments new "liberalised and accelerated phase 3 strategy of Covid-19 vaccination" was unveiled, and we still have no inkling. scroll.in/article/992921…
So! Finally some explanation of the government's thinking behind the new vaccine policy, in its submissions to the Supreme Court – which has say the pricing bits may be subject to a constitutional challenge:
For example, @ShoaibDaniyal gave us deep insights into what was actually going on in West Bengal, like explaining why the BJP ran a largely non-polarising campaign in West Bengal...
And @psychia90 explained how, after Assam’s small ethnic groups dumped BJP over CAA, the party wooed them back – not just for elections scroll.in/article/990118…