Union govt clears the myths about Covid-19 vaccine procurement

Several myths on India’s Covid-19 vaccination program are doing the rounds. These myths are arising as a result of distorted statements, half-truths and blatant lies.
Member (Health) in NITI Aayog and Chair of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC), Dr Vinod Paul, have addressed these myths and provides out info on all these points.
Here are the myths & info.
Myth 1: Centre will not be doing sufficient to purchase vaccines from overseas
Fact: The Central Government has remained engaged repeatedly with all the foremost worldwide vaccine producers proper from mid-2020. Multiple rounds of discussions have occurred with Pfizer, J&J & Moderna. The authorities provided all help to have them provide and /or manufacture their vaccines in India. However, it isn’t that their vaccines can be found in free provide. We want to grasp that purchasing vaccines internationally will not be much like shopping for ‘off the shelf’ objects. Vaccines are in restricted provide globally, and firms have their very own priorities, game-plans and compulsions in allocating finite shares. They additionally give choice to nations of their origin simply as our personal vaccine makers have accomplished unhesitatingly for us.
As quickly as Pfizer indicated vaccine availability, Central Government and the corporate are working collectively for the earliest doable import of the vaccine. As a results of GoI’s efforts, Sputnik vaccine trials bought accelerated and with well timed approval, Russia has already despatched two tranches of vaccines and completed tech-transfer to our corporations that may begin manufacturing very quickly. We reiterate our request to all worldwide vaccine makers to come back and make in India – for India and for the world.
Myth 2: Centre has not accepted vaccines obtainable globally
Fact: The Central Government has proactively eased the entry of vaccines accepted by US FDA, EMA, UK’s MHRA and Japan’s PMDA, and WHO’s Emergency Use Listing into India in April. These vaccines is not going to have to endure prior bridging trials. The provision has now been additional amended to waive off the trial requirement altogether for the well-established vaccines manufactured in different nations. No utility of any overseas producer for approval is pending with the medicine controller.
Myth 3: Centre will not be doing sufficient to ramp up home manufacturing of vaccines
Fact: The Central Government is taking part in the position of an efficient facilitator to allow extra corporations to supply vaccines from early 2020. There is only one Indian firm (Bharat Biotech) which has the IP. GoI has ensured that 3 different corporations/vegetation will begin manufacturing of Covaxin other than enhancing Bharat Biotech’s personal vegetation, which have elevated from 1 to 4. Covaxin manufacturing by Bharat Biotech is being elevated from underneath 1 Crore monthly to 10 Cr month by October.  Additionally, the three PSUs will collectively intention to supply upto 4.0 Cr doses by December.
With fixed encouragement of the Government, Serum Institute is ramping up Covishield manufacturing of 6.5 crore doses monthly to 11.0 crore doses monthly. GoI can also be making certain in partnership with Russia that Sputnik shall be manufactured by 6 corporations coordinated by Dr Reddy’s. The Union Government is supporting the efforts of Zydus Cadila, BioE as nicely Gennova for his or her respective indigenous vaccines by liberal funding underneath Covid Suraksha scheme as additionally the technical help at nationwide laboratories.
The improvement of Bharat Biotech’s single-dose intranasal vaccine is continuing nicely with GoI funding, and it might be a game-changer for the world. The estimate of manufacturing of over 200  crore doses by our vaccine business by the tip of 2021 is the results of such efforts and unstinted help and partnership. How many nations may even dream of such an unlimited capability, and that too throughout typical in addition to cutting-edge DNA and mRNA platforms? GoI and vaccine producers have labored as one Team India on this mission with seamless engagement on each day foundation.
Myth 4: Centre ought to invoke obligatory licensing
Fact: Compulsory Licensing will not be a really engaging possibility since it isn’t a ‘formula’ that issues, however lively partnership, coaching of human assets, sourcing of uncooked supplies and highest ranges of bio-safety labs that are required. Tech switch is the important thing and that continues to be within the arms of the corporate that has carried out R&D.
Infact, we’ve got gone one step forward of Compulsory Licensing and are making certain lively partnership between Bharat Biotech & 3 different entities to reinforce the manufacturing of Covaxin. An analogous mechanism is being adopted for Sputnik. Think about this: Moderna had stated in October 2020 that it’ll not sue any firm which makes its vaccines, however nonetheless not one firm has accomplished it, which reveals licensing is the least of the problems. If vaccine-making was really easy, why would even the developed world be so wanting vaccine doses?
Myth 5: Centre has abdicated its duty to the states
Fact: The Central Government is doing all of the heavy-lifting, from funding vaccine producers to giving them fast approvals to ramping up manufacturing to bringing overseas vaccines to India. The vaccine procured by the Centre is equipped wholly to the states at no cost administration to individuals. All that is very a lot within the data of the states.
GoI has merely enabled states to strive procuring vaccines on their very own, on their specific requests. The states very nicely knew the manufacturing capability within the nation and what the difficulties are in procuring vaccines instantly from overseas. In reality, GoI ran the whole vaccine program from January to April & it was fairly well-administrated in comparison with the state of affairs in May.
But states, who had not even achieved good protection of healthcare employees and frontline employees in 3 months needed to open up the method of vaccination and needed extra decentralisation. Health is a state topic & the liberalised vaccine coverage was a results of the incessant requests being made by the states to present states extra energy. The undeniable fact that world tenders haven’t given any outcomes solely reaffirms what we’ve got been telling the states from day one: that vaccines are in brief provide on this planet and it isn’t simple to obtain them at quick discover.
Myth 6: Centre will not be giving sufficient vaccines to the states
Fact: Centre is allotting sufficient vaccines to the states in a clear method as per agreed tips. In reality, states are additionally being knowledgeable prematurely of the vaccine availability. Vaccine availability goes to extend in close to future and way more provide could be doable. In the non-GoI channel, states are getting 25% of the doses and personal hospitals are getting 25% doses.
However, the hiccups and points confronted by the individuals within the administration of those 25% doses by the states depart quite a bit to be desired. The behaviour of a few of our leaders, who despite full data of the info on vaccine provide, seem on TV each day and create panic among the many individuals could be very unlucky. This will not be the time to play politics. We want everybody to unite on this battle.  
Myth 7: Centre will not be taking any step to vaccinate kids
Fact: As of now, no nation on this planet is giving vaccines to kids. Also, WHO has no suggestion on vaccinating kids. There have been research in regards to the security of vaccines in kids, which have been encouraging. Trials in kids in India are additionally going to start quickly. However, vaccinating kids shouldn’t be selected the premise of panic in Whatsapp teams and since some politicians need to play politics. It needs to be a choice taken by our scientists after satisfactory knowledge is on the market based mostly on trials.