Centre scraps India trials of foreign Covid vaccines
Multiple discussions with Pfizer, J&J and Moderna, says Centre, defends country’s vaccine policy
The government is in talks with Pfizer and is considering its demand for an indemnity from any adverse effects if its vaccine is rolled out in India, a top official said on Thursday as they defended India’s vaccine procurement policy by separately releasing a document rebutting criticism that has poured in recently.
In what it labelled as ‘myths’, the government said in a statement that is “engaged continuously” with major vaccine manufacturers since mid-2020, but the companies had “their own priorities, game-plans and compulsions in allocating finite stocks”.
“Multiple rounds of discussions have happened with Pfizer, J&J & Moderna. Government offered all assistance to have them supply and /or manufacture their vaccines in India. However, it is not that their vaccines are available in free supply. We need to understand that buying vaccines internationally is not similar to buying ‘off the shelf’ items.,” said the Myths and Facts on India’s Vaccination Process document shared by the Press Information Bureau and reshared by multiple ministers.
The document, however, does not address the main criticism NEW DELHI: