Corona vaccine: 5 companies show interest in UP government's global tender, serum raises hands

- Due to shortage of vaccines in urban areas of UP, people started participating in rural slots.

New delhi date. May 14, 2021, Friday

The Uttar Pradesh government has taken a step towards a global tender to speed up vaccination in the fight against corona. The UP government has recently issued tenders for 40 million vaccine doses in which several companies have shown interest.

A total of 5 companies have participated in the pre-bid discussion of the UP government's tender. Russia's Sputnik-V, Pfizer's partner Dr. Reddy Labs, Zydus Cadila, a South Korean company, Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute.

Which company said what?

Pfizer representatives said they have not yet received approval in India, while Zydes is currently undergoing his clinical trial and hopes to receive approval next month. According to the Serum Institute, which makes the Kovishield, they have several orders pending across the country, making it difficult to be a part of the tender in these circumstances. The last date for submission of tenders is May 21.

The UP government has already ordered 50-50 lakh doses of CoveShield of Covexin and Serum Institute of Bharat Biotech. But a separate 4 crore new dose order has been announced.

Slow vaccination in the region

Uttar Pradesh has a population of 92.8 million people between the ages of 18 and 24 and the government wants to buy more and more vaccine doses for this age group. Currently the pace of vaccination in UP is very slow. 10 million doses have been taken in the region. Vaccines are hardly available in many urban areas in UP. There is a shortage of vaccines at many hospitals and centers. In these circumstances people from urban areas are looking at rural areas as slots are getting there somewhat easily.