Ina letter issued to states and Union Territories on Saturday, the Union HealthMinistry said, "vaccination being carried out in star hotels is contraryto the guidelines and must be stopped immediately".
Thedevelopment came after various media reports highlighted the ongoing violation inwhich some private hospitals were offering package for Covid-19 vaccination incollaboration with luxury hotels.
TheCentre directed states to stop the violation of guidelines and take actionagainst such institutions.
"Necessarylegal and administrative actions should be initiated against such institutions.Therefore, you are also requested to monitor and ensure that National CovidVaccination drive is carried out as per the prescribed guidelines."
Itis directed that the officials should monitor and ensure that Covid vaccinationguidelines are followed while carrying out the world's largest exercise.
Underthe guidelines, vaccination can be carried out at "government and privateCovid vaccination centres, workplaces, near to home covid vaccination centrefor elderly and differently-abled persons to be organised at group housingsocieties, RWA offices, community centres, panchayat bhawans, school andcolleges, old age homes etc on a temporary basis."
Covidvaccination packages by luxury hotels - which include a comfortable stay,healthy breakfast, dinner and wifi, along with "vaccination by expertsfrom a renowned hospital and clinical consultation on request" - havedrawn criticism on social media.
Raisingacute vaccine shortage, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturdaysaid, "how private hospitals were getting the doses if centre does nothave enough stocks for states".
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Sisodiasaid it was vaccine shortage that has forced the state government to suspendthe inoculation programme for the 18-44 years age group.
Over21 crore doses have been administered so far since the world's biggestvaccination drive began in India on January 16 this year. The government aimsto vaccinate the entire country by the end of December this year.