The MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government on Saturday issued a global tender to source 5 crore units of COVID-19 vaccines for the state.
As per the issued tender by the state government, undertaking Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation, who was the winning bidder has to supply the vaccine within 180 days progressively from the date of the purchase order.
The shelf life of the supplied vaccine should not be less than six months on the date of receipt at the purchase site.
The dosage form could be oral or injectable; liquid or freeze dried with sterile diluent packed separately.
The vaccine storage temperature specification should be “2–8-degree Celsius. Do not freeze”, the tender stated.
The Union government is supplying the vaccine to states for those who are 45 years of age and above but have urged the states to source the vaccination on its own for people between 18 to 44 age group.
Meanwhile, former Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami wrote a letter to PM Modi requesting an increased supply of O2 and Remdesivir for the state.
An state government official told IANS: “The 18-44 age group population of Tamil Nadu is 3.65 crore. The aim is to cover 70 per cent of this, which is 2.5 crore, which in turn would require 5 crore doses. A total of 1.5 crores doses are being procured by Tamil Nadu through the Union government’s allotment from the two Indian manufacturers.”
“The rest 3.5 crore doses are being tried through the global tender,” the official added.
