The member of NITI Aayog(Health), Dr VK Paul, on Friday said that Pfizer’s request on indemnity against the cost of compensation for any severe side effects is under consideration. He also revealed that the pharmaceutical giant has said that they could make some doses available possibly by July this year.
“Yes, we are engaged with Pfizer because they have indicated availability of a certain amount and volume of vaccines in the coming months, possibly starting in July.
“We are looking at what Pfizer’s expectations from the government are, and they are looking at what our expectations from them are. That is the process in which it will move because they have to come into India; they have to apply for licensure, that is one part…
“There are imperatives of the cold chain that are being looked at,” Dr Paul, who also heads the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC), said.
Pfizer, which developed one of world’s first vaccines against covid-19, has sought faster approval from Indian government, saying their vaccine has proved to be effective against Indian-dominant variant which led to reckless second surge of virus across the country. It has also said that the vaccine is absolutely for children above the age of 12.
Pfizer has requested indemnity from all the nations. However, in India, none of the three vaccines that have received approval of DCGI, have put such conditioning forward.
“…They have requested indemnity from all nations. It is their expectation that liability should be indemnified. They have expressed this in legal language. We are examining this request and we will take a decision in the larger interest of the people and on merits. This is under discussion, but there is no decision as of now,” Paul said.
Meanwhile, the ongoing discussion with Pfizer also cover issues related to cold chain. Initially, the vaccine maker had said that its vaccine requires a temperature of about minus 58 degree to be stored. However, since then, the company has revised its advisory several times and have said that the vaccine can now be stored at temperature ranging between 2-8 degree for one month.
