Commited to work with global scientific community for timely COVID vaccine: ICMR

ICMR Director General Dr Balram Bhargava said that the research body is committed to work with the global scientific community to ensure that a COVID-19 vaccine is available in a timely manner. He said that India had to be at the forefront of global vaccine preparedness.

New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Friday said that it is committed to work with the global scientific community for ensuring a COVID-19 vaccine in a timely manner.

"India has to be at the forefront of global vaccine preparedness. We are committed to work with the global scientific community in ensuring that a vaccine is available in a timely manner," said Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General, ICMR.

ICMR had organised a multi-country online symposium on novel approaches in science and ethics of vaccine development, bringing leading vaccine scientists and researchers to a common platform on Thursday evening.

Experts agreed that all vaccine trials must and can conform to the highest standards for patient safety and ethical norms while exploring fast tracking methods.

Participants also commended the efforts of India in its contributions to vaccine development and preparedness. Dr K Vijay Raghavan, principal scientific adviser to the Government of India said that vaccine development under pandemic conditions is much more challenging than in ordinary times.

"Ensuring the development of a safe and effective vaccine, in a timely manner, involves understanding the merits of different approaches to development techniques, varide validation approaches, and the ethical consideration around all of them. Above all, the principle of community engagement and informed consent is to be upheld in all vaccine development and roll out efforts," he said.

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Speaking at the symposium, Director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Professor Peter Pilot said, "A vaccine is urgently needed to contain COVID-19. For that we have to work together - bringing science, ethics and communities - to find bold solutions to save lives."

Dr Anthony Fauci, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease said that when vaccine is available, India's private vaccine production sector will have a leading role to play. "India's research and development capacity will be integrated into global efforts to address COVID-19," he said.

Dr Stanley Plotkin, Emeritus professor, University of Pennsylvania, USA said that Covid-19 does not give the luxury of time, "but challenges us."

"It is possible to think out of the box while adhering to all global standards for vaccine development," Dr Plotkin said.

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Prof Indrani Gupta from Institute of Economic Growth said that vaccine is for global public good and its production and distribution should adhere to global standards of affordability, availability and equity.

The symposium brought together more than 250 leading scientists, ethicists, public health leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities in vaccine development.