Moderna rejects Punjab plea for vaccines, says it deals only with Centre

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 23

US-based manufacturer, Moderna has refused to deliver vaccines directly to Punjab citing policy that allows it to deal only with central government for such purpose.

State nodal officer for vaccination, Vikas Garg 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 ensure early inoculation in the state.

Garg said that Moderna had refused to deal with the state government citing policy decisions.

Punjab 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 fewer than 44 lakh vaccine doses so far from centre.

As per GoI allocation for Phase III (18-44 age group), the state government has been been able to buy only 4.2lakh vaccine doses, including 66,000 received yesterday. A total of 3.65 Lakh have already been used, leaving only 64000 for use as of now, said Vikas Garg.