PM Modi addresses nation, here are key takeaways.

P.M Narendra Modi addressed the nation at 5 p.m. on Monday, hours after announcing the same on Twitter. Here are the key takeaways –

Centre to provide free vaccines for all adults from June 21

* From June 21, the Centre will provide free Covid vaccine to all citizens above 18 years of age.

* None of the state governments will have to spend anything on the vaccine.

* Out of the total vaccines being produced in the country, the Centre will buy 75 per cent and give it to states for free.

* Private hospitals will continue to have access to 25 per cent of all vaccines.

* Private hospitals will be able to charge a maximum service charge of Rs 150 for a single dose after the fixed price of the vaccine.

Trial of 3 more vaccines in advanced stage

* Today seven companies in the country are producing different types of Covid-19 vaccines.

* The trial of three more vaccines is in an advanced stage.

* Research continuing on a nasal spray vaccine, which if successful can significantly boost India’s vaccination drive.

* India launched not one but two ‘Made in India’ vaccines within a year.

* Our scientists have shown that India is not lagging behind big countries. More than 23 crore vaccine doses have been administered in India.

* Due to the continuous efforts and hard work, the supply of vaccine is going to increase in the coming days.

Free ration scheme to continue till Diwali

* Today the government has decided that the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana will now be extended till Diwali.

In this time of the pandemic, the government is standing by the poor with every need, as their partner.

* By November, free food grains will be available in fixed quantity every month to more than 80 crore countrymen.

Continue to follow Covid protocol

* Be aware of rumours about vaccines. I urge youngsters to raise awareness about benefits of vaccination.

* Covid protocol most important weapon against a virus that is unseen and that keeps changing.

India continues to fight second wave of Covid-19

* India is witnessing the second wave of Covid-19 and we are still fighting.

* India has gone through a lot of pain during this battle; many lost their loved ones, my condolences to all such families.

* This is the biggest epidemic in the last hundred years, it is a tragedy. The modern world had neither seen nor experienced such an epidemic. Our country has fought together on many fronts with such a big global pandemic.

* During the second wave, the demand for medical oxygen in India increased unimaginably in April and May. Never in India’s history the need for medical oxygen been felt in such quantity.

* To meet this need, work was done on a war footing. All government machinery was engaged.