The Pfizer/AstraZeneca bid is from a Czech company called O2 Blue Energy SRL (File)

Mumbai:

The Mumbai civic body has received bids for the supply of Pfizer and seven other vaccines in response to its global tender for one crore doses, a top official said today. Pfizer has refused to sell its vaccine directly to states and has told states like Punjab it will only deal with the central government.

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) had floated global tenders to buy vaccines at Rs 700 crore on May 12.

“In response to MCGM’s Global Expression of Interest for procurement of one crore vaccine doses, I wish to inform that eight bids have been received till date. One bid is for Pfizer/Astra Zeneca and the remaining seven bids are for Sputnik,” said Iqbal Singh Chahal, commissioner of the civic body.

The Pfizer/AstraZeneca bid is from a Czech company called O2 Blue Energy SRL, which says it can provide one crore doses with a mix of both the vaccines in a month, according to Mr Chahal.

The time for bids was extended by a week to enable the various bidders to submit a complete set of documents as prescribed under MCGM’s Global Expression of Interest. “Any additional bid shall also be entertained,” Mr Chahal said.

Bidders are required by the Mumbai civic body’s terms to have their own cold chain for vaccine transport and delivery or to show a valid contract with a transporting agent that has facilities to transport the vaccines to the storage facility, hospitals, or vaccination centres.

Mumbai was forced to shut down many vaccination centres because of the shortage of Covid shots, especially after May 1, when inoculations were opened to all adults.

The Centre’s new policy meant states and private hospitals would have to buy vaccines directly for the newly eligible group between 18 and 44 years.

Many states announced they would float global tenders to source vaccines directly from foreign manufacturers.