Modi Govt Has Undertaken Multiple Rounds Of Discussions With Pfizer, J&J, Moderna To Procure Covid Vaccines From Abroad

The Narendra Modi led central government has informed that it has undertaken multiple rounds of discussions with foreign vaccine makers like Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson to procure Covid-19 vaccines from abroad.

"The Central Government has remained engaged continuously with all the major international vaccine manufacturers right from mid-2020. Multiple rounds of discussions have happened with Pfizer, J&J & Moderna. Government offered all assistance to have them supply and /or manufacture their vaccines in India", the release states.

The release though cautions that these foreign made vaccines are not in free supply and the procurement process is very different from buying off the shelf items.

"Vaccines are in limited supply globally, and companies have their own priorities, game-plans and compulsions in allocating finite stocks. They also give preference to countries of their origin just as our own vaccine makers have done unhesitatingly for us. As soon as Pfizer indicated vaccine availability, Central Government and the company are working together for the earliest possible import of the vaccine", it adds.

India has so far so far provided, both through the free of cost category and through direct state procurement category, more than 22 crore vaccine doses to States/UTs.

Of this, the total consumption, including wastages is 20.17 crore doses. More than 1.84 crore COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered.

With regards to the procurement plan of Covidshield, Covaxin and Sputnik V, India hopes to vaccinate all the adults by the end of this year.