Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to launch “the world's largest vaccination drive” on Saturday via video conferencing, the Centre has clarified that Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech, makers of Covishield and Covaxin, will be liable to pay damages in case the vaccines cause any adverse effects on the recipients.
According to News18, the Centre has decided not to offer indemnity to the vaccine developers. As per the contract of Bharat Biotech, the "companies also have to inform the government in case of serious adverse advents."
Vinod K. Paul, who heads a government panel on vaccine strategy had earlier clarified that no vaccine maker will be given indemnity by the government should something go wrong, reported Reuters.
Earlier, Serum Institute had written to the government seeking indemnity. "We need to have the government indemnify manufacturers, especially vaccine manufacturers, against all lawsuits. In fact, COVAX and other countries have already started talking about that," Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla had said.
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Adequate doses of both Covishield and Covaxin have already been delivered across the country to all states.
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had earlier this month approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive inoculation drive.
According to the government, the vaccine shots will be offered first to an estimated one crore healthcare workers, and around two crore frontline workers, and then to persons above 50 years of age, followed by persons younger than 50 years of age with associated comorbidities.
—With PTI inputs
