UP government dialing to vaccine makers!

Virendra Singh Rawat

Lucknow / May 26, 2021

Having floated a global tender for procuring 40 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to inoculate an estimated 90 million people in the 18-45 years bracket, the Uttar Pradesh government is now proactively reaching out to the companies for bidding.

Interestingly, the state had relaxed bidding norms to allow more companies to participate in the tender process, which has so far met with little success not only in UP but in peer states as well.

Chairing a review meeting on Sunday, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath said the state had floated a global tender for ensuring a seamless vaccination drive. “We should strive that more and more companies participate in the tender process, for which a sustained dialogue process should be kept alive with these firms.”

While the Centre has approved three vaccines for Covid-19, more vaccine brands are likely to be made available soon, Adityanath noted.

Currently, the Covid vaccination drive in UP for the 18-45 years category is underway in 23 districts. From June 1, it would cover all 75 districts. Since, Covaxin and Covishield jabs manufactured by Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute of India (SII) respectively are being used, he instructed officials to coordinate with the two companies.

At the pre-bid meeting virtually convened by UP Medical Supplies Corporation (UPMSC) on May 12, the representatives of vaccine manufacturers had suggested amendments in the global tender criteria.

The pre-bid meet was attended by the representatives of Pfizer, SII, Bharat Biotech, Dr Reddy’s Lab (Indian licensee for Russia made Sputnik), Zydus Cadila apart from a South Korean firm.

Later, UP amended the norm of storing vaccines between 2-8 degree Celsius, and allowed firms to participate even if their vials needed storage at sub-zero temperatures. The 2-8 degree Celsius storage condition had rendered Pfizer and Moderna out of contention since their mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccines have to be stored at minus 20-80 degree Celsius.

Further, the state halved the earnest money deposit (EMD) criteria for the participating firms from Rs 16 crore to Rs 8 crore.

Interestingly, the SII expressed its inability to participate in the tender citing large volumes of orders it had already had. Pfizer representative said the company was expecting to receive the approval of the Centre for supplying its vaccine.

Zydus Cadila representative said the company’s vaccine was in the clinical trial stage and regular Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) was yet to give its nod to the manufacture and supply of vaccines in India, but it was expected next month.

Last month, UP had directly placed an order for 10 million doses, 5 million each to Bharat Biotech and SII. Apart from global tender of 40 million doses and direct order of 10 million doses, the state will receive additional vaccines from the Centre for the vaccination programme.