India will be hit by multiple waves of Covid-19 unless vaccine strategy in place: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi | Pic/AFP

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday asked the government to evolve a Covid-19 vaccine strategy for the entire population, warning of multiple waves of the virus at the current rate of vaccination.

Noting that India was the vaccine capital of the world and it was possible to escalate the inoculation drive, Gandhi said it was time for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be a leader and show that he can organise vaccines for everyone.

"In my understanding, going by the current rate of vaccination guarantees the third wave of the virus. If vaccination was 50-60 per cent you would not have a third wave and certainly not the fourth," he told a press conference.

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He said going by today's pace of vaccinations, the entire inoculation exercise will be completed by May 2024 and several waves of Covid-19 will come.

He said lockdown, masks and social distancing are temporary solutions, but vaccination is permanent solution to Covid-19 and the government must evolve a strategy.

Gandhi accused the prime minister of not thinking strategically.

He also accused the government and the prime minister of "lying" on the Covid-19 death rate and urged it to not give the virus time or space.

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