Chennai: “The Centre will bear all the costs for the first phase of vaccination’, of health workers and frontline workers like the police, civil defence and sanitation workers,” said Prime Minister Modi in his Monday’s meeting with Chief Ministers.

In his address which was live-streamed, he said, “India is ready for the vaccine rollout.”

The government has said that one crore healthcare workers and about two crore frontline workers will be the first to be inoculated. People over 50 years and those below 50 who have comorbidities including diabetes, heart disease and other chronic health issues, will be vaccinated next. The total number of this third group will be 27 crore.

“If you look at the number of health and frontline workers across all states, it stands at around three crore. It has been decided that state governments will not have to bear the expenses of vaccination of these three crore people in the first phase. The government of India will bear these expenses,” Modi said.

“India’s vaccines are the most cost effective,” the Prime Minister said, adding, “The experience India has on vaccination will be very useful in vaccination process… We have to follow protocols during the entire process.”

The Prime Minister also urged states and Union Territory to ‘kill rumours’ and fake news and stressed on ensuring that politicians don’t jump the queue and take the vaccine only when their turn comes.

“All States and UTs must ensure that rumours around the vaccination programme are not allowed to spread. Corporate competition and vested interests of certain lobbies within and outside the country may be at work to fuel the rumours,” Modi said.