After Moderna, Pfizer also refuses to sell vax directly to Punjab: Official

Coming on the heels of 'Moderna', another Covid vaccine manufacturer ‘Pfizer’ , while appreciating the ‘Extraordinary efforts’ of the Government of Punjab in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic in the state, has also refused to send direct vaccination to Punjab government as according to their policy, they only deal with Government of India.

Disclosing this here today, State Nodal Officer for vaccination and Senior IAS Officer Mr Vikas Garg said that 'Pfizer' in its communication has said that "Pfizer is working with Federal Governments across the world to supply its Covid-19 vaccine for use in National Immunization programs. Our supply agreements at this time are with National Governments and Supra-national organizations with allocation of doses and implementation within the country being a decision that Governments take based on relevant health authority guidance. This approach Pfizer has followed across the world."

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The Nodal Officer further said that all vaccine manufacturers were approached for direct purchase of various Covid vaccines, including Sputnik V, Pfizer, Modern, and Johnson & Johnson, as per the directions of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to explore possibilities of floating a global tender for the procurement of vaccines from all possible sources to ensure early inoculation in the state. He said that now the State is still hoping for a positive reply from Sputnik V and Johnson & Johnson.

It may be recalled that the state government was forced to stop vaccination for Phase I & Phase 2 categories in the last three days because of non-availability. All efforts would be made for procurement of vaccines to meet the acute shortage in the state, which had received about 45.3 lakh vaccine doses so far from the Government of India.