India’s approval of vaccine criticised over lack of data
INDIA yesterday granted emergency approval to Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin but faced questions after taking the step without publishing efficacy data for the homegrown coronavirus vaccine.
The news, announced by the drugs controller-general of India was hailed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers as a success in India’s self-reliance push.
The government also approved the use of a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University which will be the lead vaccine in India’s immunisation programme until other shots are approved.
Covaxin was jointly developed with a government institute and means India joins a small list of countries to have approved its own coronavirus shot.
Bharat has partnered with drug developer Ocugen Inc to co-develop it for the US market, and Brazil has signed non-binding letters of intent to buy the shot. The company has said it was in discussions with more than 10 countries about Covaxin.
“While this vaccine addresses an unmet medical need during this pandemic, our goal is to provide global access to populations that need it the most,” Bharat Biotech chairman Krishna Ella said.
Neither the company nor India’s Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation would reveal its efficacy results. A source with knowledge of the matter said its effectiveness could be more than 60% with two doses.
China also did not publish detailed efficacy data for a vaccine it authorised on Thursday but its developer has shared interim data. “On what basis was this approval given when Bharat Biotech has NOT shown enough data proving safety & efficacy?” transparency activist Saket Gokhale asked.
Gokhale has filed a request under India’s right-to-information law asking the government for safety and other data for the two vaccines approved yesterday.
Opposition lawmakers and former ministers also questioned the lack of transparency in approving it.
“Approval was premature and could be dangerous,” said opposition lawmaker and former minister Shashi Tharoor, asking Health Minister Harsh Vardhan for an explanation.