Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said that American pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Moderna have refused to sell their COVID-19 vaccines directly to the state government. He added that the vaccine manufacturers have made it clear “they will deal with the central government”.

Kejriwal also asked the Centre to import the vaccines and distribute them to the states, which are struggling to administer vaccines to their citizens. 

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“We’ve spoken to Pfizer, Moderna for vaccines, and both the companies have refused to sell vaccines directly to us. They have said that they will deal with the Government of India alone. Appeal to the Centre to import vaccines and distribute to the states,” the chief minister told reporters.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also appealed to the Centre to approve the Pfizer and Moderna jabs immediately.

On Saturday, the Delhi government halted its inoculation drive for people aged 18-44 due to the shortage of vaccines. Kejriwal said that if vaccination in the national capital proceeds at its current pace, it will take 30 months to cover the entire population of the city.

He also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and suggested four ways to “protect the country from a third COVID-19 wave.”

Delhi recorded 1,649 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest since March 30, and 189 fatalities on Sunday, while the positivity rate slipped to 2.42%, even as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal extended the lockdown in the capital by another week.  

He said he was in talks with vaccine manufacturers to ensure that the vaccine was available in Delhi, and asserted that his government was ready to spend any amount for it.