Mumbai: An Indian state looking to procure COVID-19 shots to combat a nationwide surge in infections on Sunday said that US vaccine maker Moderna had declined to supply its shots and said it can only deal with the Union government.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened vaccinations to all adults from May 1 and allowed states to make their own arrangements to supplement stocks they received from the Union government. But India is facing a shortage of vaccines, with domestic production amounting to about 80 million doses a month.
Punjab said that Moderna “refused” to send vaccines to the state government, citing a company policy that allows it to deal only with Modi’s administration and not with state authorities or private parties.
Moderna did not immediately respond to a request for comment.( Wire)
