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India Inc is approaching vaccine manufacturers to import vaccines for the inoculation of its workforce. According to a report in Mint, big corporates like Tata Group, RIL and L&T are trying to directly procure vaccination from manufacturers.

The Tata Group is reportedly looking to float a global tender to procure vaccines for its employees.

Another anonymous source also mentioned to the media that Reliance Industries is also exploring tie-ups with global manufacturers to procure vaccines directly for its employees.

Both the companies are yet to confirm this development.

Vaccination drive

The government of India earlier this month had allowed private and non-central government entities to import vaccines to boost the vaccination drive.

Vaccines that have not received an emergency use license in India would have to obtain ‘new drug permission’ from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

Companies and state governments need not follow these rules if the vaccine is already authorised by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), and any entity, including private companies, can buy it from the importer under the government’s revised guidelines for vaccine procurement.

Pharma major Lupin also said the company plans on importing vaccines for both its own employees’ inoculation and sales purposes. Vinita Gupta, chief executive of the firm, told  media that the company is in talks with vaccine makers like Pfizer and Moderna for the import and distribution of vaccines.