Pfizer and Moderna may get indemnity: Officials
The Centre has been in talks with the firms to secure their messenger RNA vaccines, among the most effective shots against Covid-19
HT Correspondent and Agencies
NEW DELHI The government may grant indemnity from any legal proceedings to pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna, which have demanded this protection in line with agreed deals in other countries, to boost the Coronavirus vaccine supply in India, government officials aware of the matter said on Wednesday, adding that the decision was not final.
The Indian government has been in talks with the firms to secure their messenger RNA vaccines, among the most effective shots against Covid-19, as it works to speed up the pace of its nationwide inoculation drive.
Vaccinations in India have fallen behind most of the developed countries, partly due to the scarcity of doses even though all adults are eligible to get the jab that is crucial to fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last month, Niti Aayog member (health) Dr VK Paul said at a press briefing that India was in talks with Pfizer to procure vaccine doses and was considering its demand on indemnity.
VACCINATION IN INDIA HAVE FALLEN BEHIND MOST OF THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, PARTLY DUE TO SCARCITY OF DOSES EVEN THOUGH ADULTS ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET THE JAB THAT IS CRUCIAL TO FIGHTING COVID
“Yes, we are in talks with Pfizer, since they indicated they have certain amount of vaccines available in the coming months — possibly starting in July. We are looking at what their expectations from the government are and they are looking at what our expectations are,” he said, adding: “They have requested indemnity from all the nations, including the country of origin, US. We are examining this request and we will take decision in the larger interest of people and on merits. It’s under discussion but there is no decision as of now.”
Last week, the government said it was scrapping the requirement of local trials for “well-established” foreign coronavirus vaccines as another attempt to accelerate its vaccination rollout.
“The provision has now been further amended to waive the trial requirement altogether for the well-established vaccines manufactured in other countries,” the government said in a statement.
On Wednesday, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) VG Somani said in a statement that the trials had been done away with for vaccines that had been approved in other major countries along with mandatory testing of every batch imported. Somani said that for Covid-19 vaccines that are wellestablished, the requirement for conducting post-approval bridgding clinical trials and the requirement of testing of every batch of the vaccine by the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), Kasauli, can be exempted if the batch has been certified and released by the National Control Laboratory of the country of origin.