Comingon the heels of 'Moderna', another Covid vaccine manufacturer ‘Pfizer’ , whileappreciating the ‘Extraordinary efforts’ of the Government of Punjab inresponding to the Covid-19 pandemic in the state, has also refused to senddirect vaccination to Punjab government as according to their policy, they onlydeal with Government of India.
Disclosingthis here today, State Nodal Officer for vaccination and Senior IAS Officer MrVikas Garg said that 'Pfizer' in its communication has said that "Pfizeris working with Federal Governments across the world to supply its Covid-19vaccine for use in National Immunization programs. Our supply agreements atthis time are with National Governments and Supra-national organizations withallocation of doses and implementation within the country being a decision thatGovernments take based on relevant health authority guidance. This approachPfizer has followed across the world."
TheNodal Officer further said that all vaccine manufacturers were approached fordirect purchase of various Covid vaccines, including Sputnik V, Pfizer, Modern,and Johnson & Johnson, as per the directions of Chief Minister CaptainAmarinder Singh to explore possibilities of floating a global tender for theprocurement of vaccines from all possible sources to ensure early inoculationin the state. He said that now the State is still hoping for a positive replyfrom Sputnik V and Johnson & Johnson.
Itmay be recalled that the state government was forced to stop vaccination forPhase I & Phase 2 categories in the last three days because ofnon-availability. All efforts would be made for procurement of vaccines to meetthe acute shortage in the state, which had received about 45.3 lakh vaccinedoses so far from the Government of India.