Indemnity to vaccine manufacturers is logical: Expert

Indemnity against legal proceedings along the lines of what has been allowed in other countries for Pfizer and Moderna, may be given to both of them as India is exploring such a possibility to overcome the demand for vaccine production. ETV Bharat's Senior Correspondent Gautam Debroy writes.

New Delhi: Even as the Central government has been exploring possibilities on the option of giving indemnity to the foreign vaccine manufacturers, experts in India’s health domain told ETV Bharat on Friday that allowing such indemnity may be possible.

"Pfizer and Moderna have received protection against lawsuits through indemnity clauses for their Covid-19 vaccines in several other countries, including the US and Brazil. When someone is taking the vaccine voluntarily and has been made aware of possible side effects, the question of suing the company for side effects, if any, may not be justified," said renowned health expert and president of Asian Society for Emergency Medicine Dr Tamorish Kole.

He said that India needs to focus on the final goal of 'Herd Immunity' and ensure quick and mass vaccination across the country.

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Sources in the government said that discussion over granting indemnity is still on after Pfizer offered 5 crores of its doses to India between July and October.

"Officials from Pfizer are urgently pushing for indemnity in India. They have also shared efficacy trials and approvals for its vaccine in various countries and by WHO," sources said.

Pfizer has been provided with immunity in the US and Brazil where it cannot be sued for any adverse effects. India has so far not given any manufacturer indemnity against the costs of compensation for any severe side effects.

If sources in the government are to be believed, indemnity against legal proceedings along the lines of what has been allowed in other countries for Pfizer and Moderna may be given to both of them as India is exploring such a possibility to overcome the demand for vaccine production.

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The government also aims to inoculate all its citizens by December this year.

Interestingly, Dr VK Paul, chairman of National Task Force on Covid19 and a member of NITI Aayog had recently said that the government is engaged with Pfizer and Moderna and they have requested indemnity to all the nations including the country of origin.

"We are examining this request and will make a decision in the larger interest of people and on merits. This is under discussion…," Dr Paul has said.

As India’s policymakers have been discussing the issue of granting indemnity to foreign vaccine manufacturers, domestic pharma giant Serum Institute of India (SII) has once again appealed to the Central government to provide indemnity to them.

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The SII maintained that rules should be the same for everyone.

Last year, SII CEO Adar Poonawalla said that vaccine manufacturers need to have government assurance against all lawsuits.

In another key waiver to the vaccine manufacturers, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has recently waived the requirement for foreign companies to carry out "post-launch bridging trials" and to test the quality and stability of their vaccines in India if they have approvals from specific countries or health bodies.