India won't buy 'expensive' Moderna, Pfizer Covid-19 shots as local production soars: Report

Three government sources told Reuters that India won't buy the vaccine shots from the two foreign manufacturers as the domestic output of more affordable and easier-to-store vaccines has jumped.

Earlier, media had reported that the Indian government has denied companies' demands for legal protection from any side-effects from the use of their shots.

The Indian government has not granted such protection to any company so far.

"Earlier, there was a shortage, there was a need," said one of the sources, Reuters reported.

The source referred to India's appeal to the companies in April for vaccines when Covid-19 cases skyrocketed riding on the highly transmissible Delta variant of coronavirus and hundreds of people died because of the infection.

"Their price will be high. Why should we take on their conditions?" the same source was quoted as saying by Reuters.

A second source said: "The government will not buy Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. They are free to have private tie-ups after necessary regulatory clearances. But sovereign indemnity is clearly something we can't give".

However, a Pfizer spokesperson said that the discussions were going on with the government and the company remains committed to bringing the vaccine to India, according to the report.

The company reiterated that "during the pandemic phase, it would supply the COVID-19 vaccine only to central governments and supranational organisations".

Moderna and India's health ministry did not respond to Reuters' queries immediately.

However, Moderna through its Indian partner Cipla has secured the emergency use of its shots in India which needs not so cost-effective ultra-cold storage - facilities that much of India lacks. Such facilities are also necessary for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

These are also several times costlier than Covishield, a licensed version of the AstraZeneca drug.

India's monthly domestic production has jumped three times since April and will touch 300 million doses in October, according to Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

Following the surge, Mandaviya on Monday announced that India will resume vaccine exports from the October quarter.

Despite the decision to not buy vaccines manufactured outside the country, the government, however, is like to procure locally filled and finished doses of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, Reuters reported on Monday.