Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has deferred the date for opening of price bid for global e-tender for procuring COVID-19 vaccines as it will take place on June 9 (11.30 AM), a corrigendum issued by Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited (OSMCL) said.

On the other hand, two bids have been received and are under evaluation, informed Health Department today.

In order to give more vaccine manufacturers chance to participate in the global tender, OSMCL had made some amendments in a clause of the tender.

As per the amendments, vaccine manufacturers or their authorized importers of Covid-19 vaccine approved by USFDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) or EMA (European Medicines Agency) or MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, UK) or PMDA (Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, Japan) or listed by WHO (World Health Organization) for emergency use are eligible to bid for the global tender.

The OSMCL further stated that purchase orders for Covid vaccine will be placed to the qualified bidders subject to approval of DCGI.

The tender has been floated to procure 3.80 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine.