Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Centre will be the single agency for all vaccine purchases, sources told News18 that the HLL Lifecare Limited, a public sector undertaking, will be procuring the vials on behalf of the government.
The company had already issued the supply order on behalf of the Union Health Ministry in the name of Prakash Kumar Singh, Additional Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Serum Institute of India (SII), a news agency reported.
India had recently granted emergency use authorisation to two vaccines, Oxford's Covishield being manufactured by Serum Institute in India and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. Both vaccines, according to a statement from the Health Ministry, have established safety and immunogenicity.
The country is set to launch its COVID-19 vaccination drive from January 16 in what Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called the world's largest inoculation programme with priority to be given to nearly three crore healthcare and frontline workers.
(With inputs from agencies)