After Moderna, Pfizer declines Punjab’s vaccine plea; cites policy of dealing only with Centre

The Congress-led Punjab government had floated a global tender for the procurement of vaccines from foreign manufacturers.

Coming on the heels of Moderna, another Covid vaccine manufacturer, Pfizer, has also refused to send vaccines directly to Punjab, a major setback to the state’s efforts to procure shots. While appreciating the “extraordinary efforts” of the government of Punjab in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic in the state, the global pharmaceutical company clarified that according to its policy, it will only deal with the government of India. Disclosing this here today, state nodal officer for vaccination and senior IAS officer Vikas Garg said that in its communication, Pfizer has said that it is “working with federal governments across the world to supply its Covid-19 vaccine for use in national immunization programs. Our supply agreements at this time are with national governments and supra-national organizations with allocation of doses and implementation within the country being a decision that governments take based on relevant health authority guidance. This approach Pfizer has followed across the world." ALSO READ | 'Will deal only with Centre': Pfizer, Moderna refused to sell Covid vaccines to Delhi govt, says Arvind Kejriwal