After central government’s announcement of free COVID vaccines for all from June 21, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) will take a call to continue its global tender to supply 4 lakh doses of vaccines or to withdraw it. The civic body had extended the deadline for the third time on June 5 to get a qualified supplier.
Abhijit Bangar, the municipal commissioner said that they will read the guidelines under which the central government will provide vaccines, and accordingly we will take a decision. “We will make a decision very soon on the continuation of the global tender,” said Bangar. However, he added that as of now the bidding is on.
On June 5, the civic body had extended the deadline for the third time for the global expression of interest to supply 4 lakh doses of COVID vaccines. The civic body had first published a global expression of interest (EOI) on May 16 from manufacturers/ Indian partners/wholesalers/authorised distributors or dealers to provide vaccines as there is short availability of vaccines in India. As per the EOI, the total purchase of vaccines will be around Rs 40 crores.
Meanwhile, the NMMC did not get a qualified bidder to supply the COVID vaccines. “Even after three extensions, so far we did not get a qualified bidder to supply 4 lakh doses of COVID vaccines,” said Bangar. He added that they will take all points in consideration while making a decision.
The population of the city is around 15 lakh, of which around 11 lakh citizens are above 18 years of age. So far, the civic body has already inoculated 2.5 lakh.
The civic body has planned to cover hundred percent of citizens above 45 in the city by July 31, before the possible third wave of COVID in August.
Since the supply of vaccines is inconsistent, the civic body had to stop the vaccination at many centres. In fact, the vaccination from 18 and 45 years have been stopped in the city.
As per the EOI, NMMC has cold storage facilities at Central Vaccine Store, UPHC Vashi Gaon. The temperature for storage facilities is from +20 to +80C. If the Covid vaccine requires storage and temperature requirement other than that available with the NMMC, the applicant will have to provide the required storage facility for the Covid Vaccine, till the vaccination points. Currently, NMMC has 100 vaccination centers and may increase in the future.
