Covid-19 crisis: Punjab says Moderna refused to send vaccines directly

The world's largest vaccine-producing nation has fully vaccinated a little more than 41.6 million people, or only 3.8 per cent of its 1.35 billion population

Punjab looking to procure Covid-19 shots to combat a nationwide surge in infections on Sunday said US vaccine maker Moderna had declined to supply its shots and said it can only deal with the federal government.

The central government opened vaccinations to all adults from May 1 and allowed states to make their own arrangements to supplement stocks they received from it. But the country is facing a shortage of vaccines, with domestic production amounting to about 80 million doses a month.

Punjab said Moderna “refused” to send vaccines to the state government, citing a company policy that allows it to deal