The West Bengal government is giving COVID-19 vaccination certificates with the photograph of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, according to an official familiar with the developments. The certificates are being issued to the people from the 18-44 age group.
According to the official, the government is issuing certificates with the photograph of CM Mamata Banerjee because the government has been procuring COVID-19 vaccine directly from the manufacturers.
The beneficiaries above 45 years of age, however, are still getting the vaccination certificate with the photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The government has started procuring vaccines directly from the manufacturers and arranging inoculation of the population. That is the reason it has been decided to use the photograph of the CM on the certificates,” an official was quoted as telling PTI on condition of anonymity.
Bengal minister Firhad Hakim justified the practice and said that the central government was not vaccinating the people of the 18-44 group.
“All information regarding inoculation is there on the certificate. Starting from the batch number of the vaccine, there is also a CoWIN Registration number. Besides, a special message from the CM,” Hakim said.
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