Bhubaneswar (SunstarTV Bureau): The Odisha government on Monday has decided to invite global tenders from vaccine manufacturers for procurement of Covid-19 vaccine, as the state witnessing dramatical surge in corona virus cases.
As many as 26 districts in the state are now tagged as red zones having more than 1000 actives cases.
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To ensure complete and extensive vaccination coverage of the people of the state, the Odisha government has decided to procure coronavirus vaccines from major national and international vaccination firms.
Other than this, a number of other major decisions were also made to stop the unabated surge in Covid cases.
Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra, who was present in the Cabinet meeting, informed that the Health and Family Welfare Department has been allowed to invite the global tenders.
“It will help in quickly covering vulnerable populations, save lives and restore the livelihoods of people. A technical committee will be formed to work out the details,” he said.
The Cabinet also urged the Centre to exempt Covid vaccines from all tax liabilities, so that the burden on the state finances will be reduced and this will facilitate the drive towards universal vaccination.
Mohapatra told the media, “Vaccination is the shield against Covid today and in the future when we might face another wave of this infection. We are working on a mission mode to vaccinate maximum citizens as soon as possible.”
