If only BJP was humble enough to learn from capable & visionary leadership.#IndiaNeedsMoreVaccines<\/a>#NationalVaccinationDay<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/VLnLQDQbh6<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Congress (@INCIndia) March 16, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n INC Andhra Pradesh<\/a>, Goa Pradesh Congress Sevadal<\/a>, West Bengal Pradesh Mahila Congress<\/a>, Himachal Pradesh Congress Sevadal<\/a> (Hindi<\/a>), and Maharashtra Youth Congress<\/a> were among the handles affiliated to the party that shared the infographic.<\/p>\n Congress leaders Akoijam Mirabai<\/a>, Vivek Bansal<\/a> and SS Kim<\/a> posted this infographic as well.<\/p>\n Congress compared vaccines for 12 preventable diseases provided at government hospitals at no cost with the price of COVID-19 vaccines at private hospitals. As a result, readers are led to believe that the BJP is not offering any vaccines, including COVID vaccines, free of charge.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The vaccines for 12 preventable diseases cited on the infographic are based on the country’s Universal Immunisation Programme<\/a> (UIP). National Health Mission (NHM) states that UIP is one of the largest public health programmes targeting close to 2.67 crore newborns and 2.9 crore pregnant women annually.<\/p>\n According to NHM, “Under UIP, immunization is providing free of cost against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases: Nationally against 9 diseases – Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella, a severe form of Childhood Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and Meningitis & Pneumonia caused by Hemophilus Influenza type B and Sub-nationally against 3 diseases – Rotavirus diarrhoea, Pneumococcal Pneumonia and Japanese Encephalitis; of which Rotavirus.” This was offered during the Congress government’s term and still is.<\/strong><\/p>\n Private sector hospitals also play a crucial role in making India 100% immunised. However, they don’t offer the vaccines for free. We contacted a spokesperson of one of India’s largest private hospital players. The spokesperson clarified, “Private hospitals do not provide vaccines for free. They never have. However, government hospitals do.” Congress’s claim that they offered ‘free of cost vaccines for 12 preventable diseases’ is misleading because even under their term private hospitals charged for the vaccines.<\/strong><\/p>\n As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare document ‘FAQs on Immunization 2017’ (view pdf<\/a>), the vaccines below are free at government health care centres (page 12). These are 12 vaccines that prevent 18 diseases<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Alt News also found ‘FAQs on Immunization 2013<\/a>‘ (view pdf<\/a>) on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website. Back then, eight vaccines under UIP protected against nine diseases.<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/03\/Screenshot-2021-03-17-at-15.59.09.png\")
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<\/p>\nMisleading claim<\/h4>\n
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