‘Do not hide behind vaccine nationalism’: Dr Harsh Vardhan, Manish Tewari lock horns

In the midst of the primary day of the nationwide coronavirus vaccination drive, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and senior Congress chief Manish Tewari had been engaged in a disagreement after the latter questioned the protection and efficacy of the 2 indigenous Covid-19 vaccines.
The Health Minister accused the Congress of spreading “distrust and rumours” and stated that the science behind the vaccines is “resolute”. “Our scientists have worked at lightning speed to expedite functions that contribute to development of a vaccine but not a single function has been circumvented,” he tweeted. “Safety above all else has been the guiding principle!”

So blinded are we by our passions that we undergo extra to be damned than to be saved-Charles Caleb Colton
Sh @ManishTewari & @INCIndia are solely captivated with spreading mistrust & rumours
Open your eyes,sharing images of eminent Doctors & Govt functionaries getting inoculated https://t.co/kYzOtRXZcq pic.twitter.com/9Y1Bvm65ug
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 16, 2021
Responding to the Dr Harsh Vardhan’s assault, Tewari stated his considerations had been “real and not imagined” and accused the Health Minister of hiding behind “vaccine nationalism”. “It is not fear Mongering. Look what is happening in Norway. It may be a different vaccine but do not hide behind vaccine nationalism,” he wrote on Twitter. “Expected better of you sir.”
Earlier at the moment, Tewari questioned the idea on which the 2 vaccines — Serum Institute of India’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin — had been granted approval. He additional alleged that the Covaxin vaccine was cleared “sans due process”.

Dear Dr @drharshvardhan
Concerns that I’ve articulated are actual & not imagined. It isn’t worry Mongering.Look what is going on in Norway. It could also be a special vaccine however don’t cover behind vaccine nationalism. ANS QUES’sExpected higher of you Sir https://t.co/VFo1fXEEa9 https://t.co/eSWUxpmrvU
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) January 16, 2021
Tewari was referring to 23 deaths in Norway a short while after receiving their first dose of the vaccine. According to the Norwegian Medicines Agency, of these deaths, 13 have been autopsied, with the outcomes suggesting that widespread unwanted side effects might have contributed to extreme reactions in frail, aged individuals.
A number of hours earlier than PM Narendra Modi launched the nationwide inoculation train, the Congress chief tweeted: “It is all a bit puzzling. India has no policy framework for authorising emergency use. Yet, two vaccines have been approved for restricted use in emergency situation.”
India flagged off the world’s largest inoculation drive but earlier at the moment, with three crore healthcare and frontline staff first in line to be vaccinated towards the lethal illness. On Day 1, round 100 beneficiaries every shall be given the primary pictures of the 2 indigenous Covid-19 vaccines at 3,006 session websites throughout the nation.