By Archit Mehta

Since January, the COVID-19 vaccination drive in India has been taking place in three phases. The third phase began on May 1 for adults aged between 18 to 44. PM Modi had directed states on April 19 to procure vaccines to begin this phase. In April itself, the Supreme Court had criticised the Centre’s policy in a suo motu case. On June 7, the Prime Minister announced that the Centre will now directly procure 75% of the vaccines and provide free vaccination to everyone above 18.

Subsequently, several journalists and mainstream media outlets portrayed that the union government’s plan to revert to centralised procurement of vaccines was tabled on June 1 and the Supreme Court order hearing came out on June 2 – thus implying that PM Modi’s announcement was an independent decision and the Supreme Court’s observations had no bearing.

Times Now editor Navika Kumar wrote, “I’m being told that reverting to centralised procurement policy for vaccines was on the @narendramodi @PMOTable on June 1. As a detailed presentation & his ok was inked the same day. SC hearing was on June 2. Over to opposition.” She later took down her tweet.

ABP News anchor Vikas Bhadauria cited “govt sources”, claiming the centre’s plan was “already underway” by the time the SC’s hearing was held on “June 3”. An identical tweet that cited “govt sources” for the information was posted by numerous other journalists including Aman Sharma, Payal Mehta and Megha Prasad.

Republic reported, “However, top sources in the Government of India have rebutted the claims of the Opposition by stating that the plan for Centralised free vaccinations was presented to PM Modi on June 1. The Prime Minister had given approval on the same day, whereas the Supreme Court observations on the same were given a day later i.e. on June 2.” Similar reports were published by media outlets ANI, Yahoo News, Times Now, Zee5, LatestLY, Live Hindustan and The Navhind Times.

To be continued.....