Centre should give free COVID-19 vaccine to poor: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope SECTIONS Last Updated: Jan 02, 2021, 04:27 PM IST Share Synopsis "I heard that Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has declared that the government would give COVID-19 vaccine free of cost to health workers and frontline workers. I would request him to give the vaccine free to poor people too in Maharashtra," Tope said. Agencies Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope Jalna: The Centre should ensure that poor people in Maharashtra get COVID-19 vaccine free of cost, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Saturday. When asked whether the Maharashtra government would provide free vaccine to the poor if the Centre fails to do so, the health minister said, "We won't leave the poor in the lurch".