"French Embassy Procured Moderna Vaccine. How?" Maharashtra Minister

The Minority Affairs Minister sought to know from the Centre how a "non-permitted" vaccine is allowed to be administered to the residents of France and their relatives living here.

Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on Thursday claimed that the French embassy in India has procured Moderna anti-coronavirus vaccine and it is being administered to its nationals at Navi Mumbai even as only three other vaccines are permitted in the country. The Minority Affairs Minister sought to know from the Centre how a "non-permitted" vaccine is allowed to be administered to the residents of France and their relatives living here. Mr Malik, who is NCP's national spokesperson, also asked why the Centre cannot procure the vaccine for the people of India if the French Embassy can. "Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V are the 3 Vaccines that are permitted in India by our government. According to information received by me, the French Embassy in India has procured the vaccine @moderna_tx and is inoculating their citizens and their relatives at Navi Mumbai with the help of @ApolloHosMumbai," Mr Malik tweeted.