Punjab awaits nod from global vaccine network

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 19

The state government is yet to get the approval to join the Global Covax facility alliance for global sourcing and procurement of Covid vaccines.

The government had initiated a process to join the alliance last week for global sourcing and procurement of Covid vaccines at the best price. Punjab was the first state to take such initiative towards addressing the problem of vaccine shortage amid the deadly second wave of the pandemic.

Principal Secretary, Health, Hussan Lal said they had sent a request to persons concerned at the Global Covax facility alliance. “We are eagerly waiting for a positive response from them as that will help us procure the vaccine at a low cost,” he said.

The government has so far ordered only Covishield vaccine for the 18-44 age group, but with this decision, decks have been cleared to place orders for Covaxin too.

The state government has ordered 30 lakh Covishield doses but the Serum Institute of India had confirmed 4.29 lakh, of which 1 lakh doses had been received.