<p>Uttar Pradesh will spend up to Rs 100 crore to buy Covid-19 shots and held early talks this week with companies such as Pfizer and the local distributor of Russia's Sputnik V, a state official said on Thursday.</p>.<p>The move by Uttar Pradesh comes as many states curtail vaccinations due to severe shortages amid a record surge in coronavirus infections, with India recording more than 4,000 deaths for a second straight day as its health system fails to cope.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/centre-mulling-waiver-of-covaxin-patent-rights-sadananda-gowda-985473.html" target="_blank">Centre mulling waiver of Covaxin patent rights: Sadananda Gowda </a></strong></p>.<p>Uttar Pradesh has also held pre-bid talks with Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech and Cadila Healthcare as part of a global tender to buy 40 million doses over the next few months, state spokesman Navneet Sehgal told <em>Reuters</em>.</p>.<p>He said Johnson and Johnson could also confirm their participation in the tender by late Thursday via email. Sputnik V's local distributor, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, has also held talks.</p>.<p>"Money is not an issue, we have a huge budget," said Sehgal. "We will spend up to Rs 100 crore."</p>.<p>He however said funds would have to be diverted from other areas to buy the vaccines.</p>
<p>Uttar Pradesh will spend up to Rs 100 crore to buy Covid-19 shots and held early talks this week with companies such as Pfizer and the local distributor of Russia's Sputnik V, a state official said on Thursday.</p>.<p>The move by Uttar Pradesh comes as many states curtail vaccinations due to severe shortages amid a record surge in coronavirus infections, with India recording more than 4,000 deaths for a second straight day as its health system fails to cope.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/centre-mulling-waiver-of-covaxin-patent-rights-sadananda-gowda-985473.html" target="_blank">Centre mulling waiver of Covaxin patent rights: Sadananda Gowda </a></strong></p>.<p>Uttar Pradesh has also held pre-bid talks with Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech and Cadila Healthcare as part of a global tender to buy 40 million doses over the next few months, state spokesman Navneet Sehgal told <em>Reuters</em>.</p>.<p>He said Johnson and Johnson could also confirm their participation in the tender by late Thursday via email. Sputnik V's local distributor, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, has also held talks.</p>.<p>"Money is not an issue, we have a huge budget," said Sehgal. "We will spend up to Rs 100 crore."</p>.<p>He however said funds would have to be diverted from other areas to buy the vaccines.</p>