Pfizer, Moderna won’t sell vax to us: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: Vaccination of people aged between 18-44 and those above 45 years, frontline workers and healthcare personnel awaiting the second dose has been completely halted because Delhi government doesn’t have any Covaxin left with it.
Voicing concerns over the vaccine crunch that has left thousands in the lurch, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said many centres had been closed. He added that he had already apprised the Centre of the shortage. “Pfizer and Moderna, which Delhi government had approached, have refused to sell vaccines directly to states as they prefer to deal directly with the central government. I have appealed to the Centre to import vaccines and distribute them to the states,” said the CM.
Blaming the Centre for the shortage, deputy CM Manish Sisodia claimed that vaccination had become a joke. “The Centre is fully responsible for this dearth of vaccines being faced by the nation currently. It has failed to manage the situation. When Delhi government raised the demand for vaccines, the Centre provided only 4 lakh doses and asked us to float a global tender. We reached out to Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, but the first two firms said they were speaking exclusively with the Centre and wouldn’t distribute vaccines to state governments,” he added.
After visiting an oxygen depot at Mayapuri on Monday, Kejriwal said, “It is my earnest request to the Centre not to waste any more time in procuring foreign vaccines. The country has already lost a lot of time. There are a lot of vaccines in the international market, including Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer. The Centre should talk to them and import and distribute vaccines among the states. If the central government invites these companies, deals can be made within 3-4 days. Why is the work not being done with urgency?”
Sharing Delhi’s vaccine stock position, AAP functionary Atishi said for those aged above 45 and healthcare/frontline workers, the Covaxin’s stock would end by Monday, while Covishield’s stock remained for 14 days. “We received 1.5 lakh doses of Covishield for the 45+ segment today,” she added.
“It is a matter of great concern as those given the first dose of Covaxin a month ago are due to get their second jab soon. If the second shot is not given, it can pose a serious problem and the first dose may get wasted. It is a humble appeal to the Centre to make sufficient doses of Covaxin available for Delhi at the earliest. The vaccine’s efficacy remains only when the second dose is given on time,” said Atishi.
Drawing the attention of the Centre towards the threat Covid-19 poses to youths, Atishi said those who received both doses developed only mild infections. “We received 8,17,690 doses for this segment in May. The commitment for next month by the Centre is half of that, which is 4,01,000,” she added.
Sisodia said the UK had cleared Pfizer. In fact, 85 nations had given Pfizer the green light, but the Centre had not cleared them. “Apart from India, Moderna has been distributed in 46 nations and Johnson & Johnson in 41 countries. The Centre needs to understand the gravity of the situation and immediately procure vaccines from global companies. It’s time to rise above petty politics and think about the safety of our citizens,” he added.
AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the Centre had approved only two vaccine companies and ensured immoral profiteering to them. “Delhi government doesn’t have vaccines to administer, but if you call private hospitals, they will give you the shot for Rs 1,200-1,400. The vaccine is being given at Rs 150 to the central government. This means a profit of Rs 1,000 is being made by private players,” he claimed.
Kejriwal said Covaxin manufacturer Bharat Biotech was willing to share its formula and 16 companies could make the vaccine. “However, Bharat Biotech has struck a deal with only two companies. The Centre should invite these 16 companies and formally order them to start production within the next few days,” added the CM.