Bhubaneswar : In view of rising COVID-19 cases in the country, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has urged the centre to permit availability of COVID-19 vaccines in the open market so that those wiling and can afford may take the jabs.
In a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Naveen Patnaik said that availability of the vaccines in the open market would help the government to have a focused approach towards vulnerable sections of the society.
He has suggested that the government of India should approve other COVID-19 vaccines which have already been approved by credible agencies and governments globally.
Naveen further added that the government should go an extra mile to support vaccine manufacturers to increase production.
Those metropolitan cities which contribute highest COVID-19 cases should be given priority in vaccination and age criteria for vaccination should be relaxed in these cities as these are economic nerve centres of the country.
Odisha has reported 3144 new cases on Thursday taking the tally to 3.64 lakh. However, the good news is 952 people have recovered yesterday taking total number of recoveries to 3.43 lakh.