Odisha govt places order for Covid vaccines with manufacturers

Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the third phase of Covid vaccination programme from May 1, the Odisha government placed orders for procurement of Covishield and Covaxin vaccines from the manufacturers.

The Government of India had earlier allowed States and private hospitals to procure Covid vaccines directly from the manufacturers up to 50% of the vaccine output.

Today, Additional Chief Secretary of Health and Family Welfare department PK Mohapatra in a letter to the Chairman and Managing Director of Serum Institute of India (SII) proposed the company to procure 377 lakh doses of Covishield at the rate fixed by the vaccine manufacturer.

He also wrote to the Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech proposing to procure 10.34 lakh doses of Covaxin at the rate to be fixed by the company.

For the procurement of the two Covid vaccines, the Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited (OSMCL), Bhubaneswar will be the nodal agency. The letter further stated the Managing Director of OSMCL, Bhubaneswar will be the nodal officer of the procurement process for the State.

Today evening, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced the State government will provide Covid vaccine to the people within the age bracket of 18-44 years free of cost.

The State government will shell out around Rs 2,000 crore for vaccination of the people in age group of 18-44 years.