Chandigarh: The country is battling an acute shortage of vaccines in most states and central government has been taking steps to manufacture the jab in India itself which will reduce the economic stress and the state will be able to run the inoculation drive smoothly. However, manufacturing the vaccines within the country might take time, therefore states have been placing global tenders to obtain more vaccines to keep the people safe.
While it has been a difficult task for the state governments to get a nod from companies for global vaccine supply, the Haryana government has informed that it has received an “expression of interest” from a pharmaceutical company with its headquarters in Malta to provide up to 60 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine.
The move comes a day after the deadline for Haryana’s global tender for procuring 1 crore Covid-19 vaccine jabs for the state expired on Friday.
“Although the offer has come after the due date of tender is over but still, it is being carefully examined to see if it meets the criteria of the tender document and to ensure the optimal vaccine availability for the state,” said Rajeev Arora, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Haryana.
“Haryana had floated a global tender through Haryana Medical Services Corporation (HMSCL) on May 26 which closed on June 4. Although no bid was received in the tender but an international pharma company with its headquarters in Malta namely Pharma Regulatory Services Limited has given an expression of Interest to HMSCL to provide up to 60 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine,” the Haryana government said.
Sputnik V is the third vaccine approved by India’s drug controller for emergency used in India in April. Besides Sputnik V, India has given approval of Serum Institute of India’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech Covaxin vaccines for use.
Sputnik V has been given permission for emergency use in more than 65 countries. However, it is yet to be approved by the European Union or United States’ health authorities.