Military veterans have suggested that the Narendra Modi government should rope in the armed forces to assist with the massive vaccination drive starting from May 1 amid a huge surge in coronavirus infections that are overwhelming hospitals across the country.

Vaccinations will be opened to all above 18 years from May 1.

Lieutenant General (retired) H.S. Panag said in a tweet on Tuesday: “The way forward is mass vaccination. Govt should arrange the vaccine and task the Armed Forces to coordinate and execute it.”

Echoing him, a retired colonel said the Centre needed to take the help of armed forces in the planning of the vaccination programme.

“In the wake of the massive corona(virus) outbreak leading to deaths across the country, the vaccines represent the light at the end of the tunnel and their rapid roll out will help regain normality. The armed forces should be roped in to aid vaccine jab rollout,” he said.

He said the government should utilise the armed forces’ deep resources, medical facilities and manpower.

Colonel Ashok Singh pointed out that India was currently facing a shortage of vaccines. “The armed forces are in a better position to carry out the vaccine jab rollout. But where are the vaccines?” he asked. “People are dying for want of bed in hospitals. There is no vaccine and no oxygen.”

The Serum Institute of India, which is manufacturing Covishield, has priced the vaccine at Rs 400 per dose for states and Rs 600 per dose for private hospitals.

“No vaccine, no oxygen, no ventilator and no hospital bed. You are only confirming the obvious. ...The point I have made is that even if the vaccine is available, our inefficient system will take a very long time. The Armed Forces can speed it up,” said Panag in response to a tweet by Mohan Peshin, a surgeon, who highlighted the scarcity of vaccines.