Delhi Deputy Prime Minister Manish Sisodia has urged the center to develop a centralized procurement policy for vaccines as major international vaccine manufacturers have declared they will not sell their batches to state governments.
File photo of the Deputy Prime Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia | PTI photo
The Delhi government on Monday urged the center to develop a centralized vaccine sourcing policy for international manufacturers as at least two of them refused to sell their batches to state governments.
In a letter to the central government, Delhi Deputy Prime Minister Manish Sisodia said that Moderna and Pfizer have refused to sell their Covid-9 vaccines directly to the Delhi government and that they are only dealing with the center become.
“The Delhi government has reached out to various vaccine manufacturers around the world, including Pfizer and Moderna. All vaccine manufacturers have categorically told us that they only deal at the level of the Indian government and not with state governments, ”Manish Sisodia said in the letter.
Sisodia said the Delhi government’s rejection of global tenders posed a serious challenge that only the central government could solve.
“The Indian government controls the production and supply of vaccines by Indian manufacturers and the supply of vaccines by foreign manufacturers. It is high time the Indian government put in place a coherent, transparent and effective vaccination policy for all citizens of this country, including children, ”the letter said.
Criticized the centre’s decision to ask states to source vaccines for the 18-44 age group, Sisodia said states are in a vulnerable position.
“As Covid cases and deaths skyrocketed towards the end of April 2021, the Indian government abruptly changed vaccination policies, stating that states must make their own arrangements for vaccinating youth. You have left the people of this country, including Delhi, in such a vulnerable position and made the states and the people take care of themselves, ”he said.
Sisodia said the Delhi government was willing to pay for the vaccines procured by the center for the 18-44 age group.
“In order to avoid further deaths, it is our humble request to the Indian government to develop a centralized procurement and dispensing policy for vaccines. Delhi is ready to pay the cost of the vaccine, ”said Sisodia.
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