BJP and opposition spar over India vaccine

Slamming the opposition leaders for raising questions over the vaccine, BJP national spokesperson Gopal Krishna Agarwal said that those who have been continuously raising questions over the vaccine are actually 'anti-nations' who are not willing to lead the country in the field of medicine.

New Delhi: Soon after the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) gave permission to Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN and Serum Institute of India's COVISHIELD 'for restricted use in an emergency situation', a political war started between Congress, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and the BJP.

Yadav on Saturday announced he would not get himself vaccinated even after the Coronavirus vaccine arrives in India. Speaking to the media at the Samajwadi Party office in Lucknow, Akhilesh said he does not trust the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vaccine.

"This vaccine belongs to people in the BJP. How can I trust this vaccine? When our government comes to power in 2022, everyone will get the corona vaccine free of cost", said SP chief.

The trail has also been joined by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and Sashi Tharoor over the 'restricted clearance' given to the vaccine candidates who have not cleared the phase-3 trials yet.

Slamming the opposition leaders for raising questions over the vaccine, BJP national spokesperson Gopal Krishna Agarwal said that those who have been continuously raising questions over the vaccine are actually 'anti-nations' who are not willing to lead the country in the field of medicine.

"The vaccines that have been given restricted approval are not manufactured by the Saffron party. This is the hard work of our scientists and medical staff. The opposition party leaders are only creating confusion at the time of pandemic", added Agarwal to ETV Bharat.

'COVAXIN's approval is for emergency situation, not emergency use authorisation'

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) director Dr Randeep Guleria on Sunday clarified that approval of COVAXIN, Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine is for an emergency situation and not emergency use authorisation which is given to Serum Institute of India's COVISHIELD.

Dr Guleria said Bharat Biotech was not given emergency use authorisation because of the fact that more data is still needed for the approval.

"If you look at the approval of COVAXIN, it says clearly that it is for an emergency situation and not emergency use authorisation that is given for Serum Institute. This is so because of the fact that more data is still needed. They have just given an emergency approval for emergency situation and that is keeping in mind the situation globally," the AIIMS director said.

Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted permission for restricted use in an emergency situation to vaccines of Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech. However, questions were raised on approval given to Bharat Biotech whose phase III trial is pending and more data was sought from the biotech company by Indian drug regulatory body.