Amid continuing concern over vaccine shortages in multiple states, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday alleged that the Centre was directing dispatching of vaccines, even after announcing states could procure the medicines directly.
Speaking at a press conference, Sisodia was quoted by ANI as saying, "We had demanded 1.34 crore doses: 67 lakhs each of Covaxin (made by Bharat Biotech) and Covishield (made by Serum Institute). Covaxin (Bharat Biotech) wrote to us yesterday that they can't provide. They wrote 'we're making dispatches as per directives of concerned government officials'. It is obvious that these are Central government officials."
Sisodia added, "'We (Bharat Biotech) sincerely regret that we can't make any additional supplies as required by you', they further wrote. I don't know how much is being supplied to other states but they've written to us that they can't provide to Delhi because they have to supply as per Central government."
"The letter by Covaxin manufacturers clarifies that Central government decides which state will get how many doses," Sisodia said. Sisodia shared a copy of the letter on his Twitter handle.
Sisodia urged the Centre to approve vaccines available in international market for use in India and direct states to vaccinate everyone in three months. He requested the Centre to understand severity of the situation, stop export of vaccine and share vaccine formula with other manufacturers.
Sisodia said Delhi's reserve stock of vaccine was exhausted. "Our reserve stock (of vaccine) is exhausted. The centres administering Covishield vaccines are functioning, but we have had to close the centres administering Covaxin. So, we have had to close down more than 100 centres across 17 schools."
On Tuesday, Sisodia claimed the Central government wanted the states to compete and fight with each other in the international market for vaccines.
Earlier on Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and requested that formulae of the vaccines should be shared.