Centre may put onus on States to import COVID-19 vaccines

Govt. aiming to support domestic vaccine-makers by guaranteeing purchases from them, say sources

The Centre has decided to leave the import of COVID-19 vaccines to State authorities and companies, two government officials told Reuters, a decision that may slow the acquisitions of shots as a second wave of the pandemic rips through the country. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government would instead aim to support domestic vaccine-makers by guaranteeing purchases from them, they said. The government this month paid Indian producers in advance, for the first time, for vaccine doses. Under fire for his uneven handling of the world’s worst COVID-19 surge, Mr. Modi has opened , but supplies are already running short.