Mumbai: BMC Floats Global Tender Amid Vaccine Shortage, Seeks 1 Cr Doses; Bars China From Bidding

In this case, any company or vaccine coming from China will not be considering with reports stating the BMC is concerned about the quality and other aspects of Chinese vaccines and not willing to accept the approval given by the WHO.

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has in a recently floated tender issued a global Expression of Interest (EoI) in order to procure one crore doses of vaccines that are needed for the population of Mumbai.

The BMC has, however, added a clause in the global Expression of Interest that bars nations sharing land borders with India.

In this case, any company or vaccine coming from China will not be considering with reports stating the BMC is concerned about the quality and other aspects of Chinese vaccines and not willing to accept the approval given by the WHO.

“We are the first municipal corporation in the world to invite global tender for vaccines. The last date for submission is May 18. After the completion of work order, they have to deliver vaccines in under three weeks. They have to fulfill the guidelines of the ICMR and DCGI,” ANI quoted Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar as saying.

“They have to install their cold storage if needed. Efficacy of the vaccines should not be lower than 60% is also under our tender’s terms and conditions. We will not give any advance payment. We will fine companies if they fail to deliver vaccines on time,” she added.

Mumbai reported 1,946 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 6,84,048 while 68 people succumbed to the virus, taking the death toll to 14,076.

The country’s fiscal capital reported 2,037 recoveries in the last 24 hours. However, there are still 38,649 active Covid-19 cases in Mumbai.