Which of the following statements regarding the varicella vaccine and its recent procurement relaxation is/are correct?
1. The Department of Expenditure has permitted Global Tender Enquiries for the varicella vaccine for tenders below Rs 200 crore.
2. The varicella vaccine is typically a killed (inactivated) vaccine used to prevent smallpox.

Question

Accepted Answer

1 only — Statement 1 is correct; the government relaxed Rule 161(iv) of the General Financial Rules 2017 to allow global tenders for the varicella vaccine, bypassing standard 'Make in India' restrictions. Statement 2 is incorrect; the varicella vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine used to prevent chickenpox, not smallpox.

Varicella Vaccine Procurement Rule Relaxed

PM Modi's State Visit to Sri Lanka