Tamil Nadu To Import Vaccines Via Global Tender Route: MK Stalin

Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and several other states are also taking the global tender route to augment vaccine supplies.

Tamil Nadu will import anti-coronavirus vaccines for the 18-44 age group by way of global tenders, Chief Minister MK Stalin said on Wednesday, joining several other states that have turned to international markets for procurement of the Covid jabs as domestic supplies dwindled amid a devastating spell of the deadly disease. MK Stalin, who took the oath of office last week after steering his party DMK to a massive win in the recently concluded assembly elections, said his government will expedite import of the vaccines and ensure swift vaccination of the 18-44 group. "We have received 13 lakh doses for the 18+ group so far. This is inadequate," he said. The central government opened the vaccination drive to all adults from May 1. The government directed vaccine manufacturers to allocate 50 per cent of the total doses to the centre; the remaining 50 per cent are to be sold to states and private hospitals.