Shortly after taking oath as the chief minister of West Bengal for the third consecutive term, Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to facilitate free vaccines for all in a "transparent and time-bound manner".
Ms Banerjee, in her letter, also expressed concern over the dearth of oxygen cylinder in West Bengal, and stressed that the current health system "will have to be strengthened".
"Considering the severity of the matter in its entirety, I would like to request you to kindly look into free vaccination as universal immunisation for all in a transparent and time-bound manner (sic)," she said.
"At present, vaccine availability is too inadequate...and the central government's direction to extend vaccination up to 18 years makes it unrealistic. So supply of vaccines is the core issue that needs to be addressed now," she said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
"Ready To Deliver On Common Understandings Between PM Modi-Xi Jinping": China PM Modi Arrives In Brazil To Attend G20 Summit After Nigeria Visit PM Modi Announces 20 Tons Of Humanitarian Aid To Flood-Hit Nigeria Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's Brother Anmol Bishnoi Arrested In US: Sources Supreme Court Asks About Delhi Construction Ban. Lawyer's Reply Stuns Judge Dhaka, Islamabad Inch Closer With Historic Sea Link. How It Impacts India IndiGo Pilot Surprises Wife With Cute Announcement, Internet Loves It SpaceX To Launch Tonight ISRO's Satellite For Enabling In-Flight Internet Dhaka, Islamabad Inch Closer With Historic Sea Link. How It Impacts India Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.