Reuters first to report India’s most populous state to spend up to $1.36 bln on COVID shots amid shortage

Reuters was first to report that India’s most populous state will spend up to $1.36 billion to buy COVID-19 shots and recently held early talks with companies such as Pfizer and the local partner of the maker of Russia’s Sputnik V. The move by Uttar Pradesh, home to more people than Brazil, comes as many Indian states curtail vaccinations due to severe shortages amid a record surge in coronavirus infections, with India recording more than 4,000 daily deaths as its health system fails to cope.