Moderna, Pfizer can’t supply to India due to pre-orders: Government

India’s health ministry said vaccine makers Pfizer and Moderna are currently occupied with their pre-booked orders holding back their India supplies, but the government is in touch with the companies to facilitate their vaccine launch in the country. The response from the health ministry comes after several states complained saying the two companies refused to supply to state governments.

“We have been speaking to Pfizer and Moderna in terms of regulatory pathways and on procurement level," said Lav Agrawal, joint secretary at the ministry, on Monday. “At present, their order book is full, and it is depending upon the surplus. When they have, their vaccines will come to India, and depending on that, we will facilitate their launch,” he explained.

State governments such as Delhi and Punjab have said the companies refused to participate in the global tender floated by these governments saying they will deal only with the central government. However, for most of these companies, there is already a commitment to supply to all those countries that had paid in advance last year before the vaccine even received their regulatory approval.

In the new round of vaccination, countries such as US and Canada have procured doses not only for their adult population but also for children in the age group of 12-16 years old. Vaccine companies are also prioritising countries such as Japan that have placed $1 billion order worth of vaccines for the Olympics.

In India, Pfizer said it won't transfer its technology to local companies until the pandemic phase is over.

Any supplies, if it comes, will come from its US and European manufacturing facilities. However, the company has signed a manufacturing deal with Chinese drug maker Fosun Pharma for tech transfer to supply 1 billion doses to China.