BHOPAL: While there is a severe shortage of Covid-19 vaccines in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has rejected the concept of a global tender to procure vaccines. Chouhan, echoing Assam’s newly elected chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, said the term “global tender” “may sound like a familiar slogan, but I didn’t find it useful.” On May 20, he was speaking to a group of industrialists.
Assam chief minister had said that “global tender has no value beyond publicity”.
Only 1 crore people have been vaccinated in Madhya Pradesh that has a population of about 7.5 crore.
Addressing entrepreneurs comprising representatives of different industrial organisations including the CII and FICCI, Chouhan said, “So far I have not found the global tender very effective”. (Mujhe global tender jyada kargar nahi laga). “Uske kya parinam honge, mujhe usme koi saar nahi lagaa) (what would be its outcome, I could not make it out).”
He said that Sputnik and Pfizer vaccines were also available choices. Chouhan said that he found out that handling of “Pfizer may be difficult for the climatic conditions of MP and the cold chain facility that we have as it has to be carried in -25 to – 30 degrees.
The best, he said, would be to go through the proper channel. He said he had been in contact with the Centre and had spoken to the Prime Minister for Covishield and Covaxin.
Following the vaccination of those aged 45 and up, a vaccination campaign for those aged 18 and up began on May 5 and lasted until May 15. Uttar Pradesh, which is governed by the BJP, was the first state to go through a global tendering process for Covid-19 vaccines. It was first proposed on May 7.
In the province, an estimated 5.29 crore doses of vaccines are required for people aged 18 and up. The state anticipates receiving 4.76 crore Covidshield shots and 52.25 lakh Covaxin doses, and orders have been placed for their procurement.
