Inspite of controversy SII trial will continue, says IMA Official

Amid a face-off between a Covid 19 vaccine volunteer and manufacturer, the Indian Medical Association official (IMA) on Monday said that Serum Institute of India (SII) can definitely continue its trial process.

New Delhi: "Trial of the vaccine will continue. I don't think there is a case for stopping the trial. The ongoing trial aims to find out a cure from the pandemic. It aims to find out the side effects from where they are coming and how they are coming. However, the incident may lead to rectification of certain aspects of the procedure of the trial," said Dr RV Asokan, secretary-general of IMA in an exclusive interview to ETV Bharat in New Delhi.

A 40-year old Chennai based volunteer accused that after he faced severe side effects during the trial process.

The person wanted to investigate the cause of him contracting neurological complications he had suffered. The volunteer has claimed Rs 5 crore as compensation from the Pharma giant. On the other hand, the Pharma giant, Serum Institute of India (SII), is intimidating the volunteer with a threat of over Rs 100 crore damage suit.

"The volunteer has his own legal right to move to the court. But at the same time, any volunteer has also been given adequate information about the vaccine and the trial. And it is with the consent of the individual that the trial was done. Suppose something has happened out of that, perhaps he has a case," said Dr Asokan.

He said that the company also has all the clearance ranging from scientific, technical as well as ethical clearance.

"Their documentation should have been proper. It's entirely legitimate for the company to observe that these are part of the trial and any side effects may happen during the trial," added Dr Asokan.

He said that IMA is aware of the development.

"We are aware of the matter and it's individual right against the trial of the company. The company is also doing it under the law of the land," said Dr Asokan and added that the volunteer is entitled a certain amount of compensation legally where certain capping is there.

SII which is doing Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of Oxford vaccine is optimistic that the vaccine will certainly work against the Covid-19 pandemic. The Pharma giant is also in the process of applying for emergency use of authorisation of Covishield in the next couple of weeks.

Read: IMA offers govt services of its members in COVID-19 inoculation programme