The world’s largest vaccination program is going on in India from January 16. Many myths (false facts) are being spread about this Covid-19 Vacciantion such as the central government is not making necessary efforts to buy vaccines from abroad or the globally available vaccines have not been approved. These myths are spreading due to false statements, incomplete truths and lies being openly spoken. Now the member (health) of the NITI Aayog and the head of the National Group of Experts on the Corona Vaccination Administration, NEGVAC, Dr. Vinod Paul has denied the lies related to all these myths and informed the facts on all these issues .
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Myth 1: The Center is not making enough efforts to buy vaccines from abroad
Fact: The central government has been in constant contact with all the major international companies making vaccines since mid-2020. Several rounds of discussions have also taken place with Pfizer, J&J and Moderna about this. The Central Government has offered them all kinds of assistance to supply and / or manufacture their vaccines in India. It should be understood, however, that vaccines are in limited supply globally and companies have their own priorities, plans and compulsions in allocating limited stocks. She will give it first in the country where it is being made. As soon as Pfizer indicated the availability of the vaccine, work is being done together for its early import. In addition to the efforts of the Government of India, there has been a spurt in Sputnik vaccine trials and Russia has already done the technology transfer by sending two installments of the vaccine to our companies and now very soon these companies will start manufacturing it. All foreign vaccine manufacturers are being requested once again to come to India and make vaccines for India and the world once again.
Myth 2: The Center has not approved globally available vaccines
Fact: The central government has made the process of procuring vaccines approved by the regulators of the US, Europe, UK and Japan in India and for emergency use listings of WHO in India in April itself. These vaccines will not be required to undergo bridging trials before use. Apart from this, the provision has now been further amended to completely eliminate the need for trial for vaccines made in other countries and better tested. At this time, the application of any foreign company to the drug regulator is not stuck for approval.
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Myth 3: The Center is not making enough efforts to increase domestic production of vaccines
Fact:
- Since the beginning of 2020, the central government has been playing an effective role in enabling more companies to produce vaccines. However, only Bharat Biotech has IP (Intellectual Property) in India regarding the Corona vaccine. It has been ensured by the Government of India that in addition to increasing its plants of Bharat Biotech, 3 other companies / plants will start production of covicin.
- The production of covaxine is being increased from 1 crore per month to 10 crore by October by Bharat Biotech. Apart from this, a target has been set for three other government companies to produce up to 4 crore doses by December.
With the encouragement of the government, the serum institute is increasing the covisiled production of 6.5 crore doses every month to 11 crore doses per month. - The Government of India in partnership with Russia is also ensuring that 6 companies will produce Sputnik together with Dr. Reddy.
- The Central Government is supporting Zydus Cadila, BioE as well as Genoa for their indigenous vaccines under the COVID Protection Scheme as well as technical support in national laboratories.
- Apart from this, India is making biotech single dose intranasal vaccine for which the government is funding.
- By the end of this year 2021, India is estimated to have produced more than 200 million vaccine doses.
Myth 4: Center must implement compulsory licensing
Fact: Compulsory licensing is not a very attractive option as there is a need for active participation, training of human resources, mobilization of raw materials and high level of bio-safety labs. Technology transfer can only be done by a company that has done research and development. Talking about India, we have gone a step ahead of compulsory licensing and are ensuring active participation between Bharat Biotech and 3 other entities to increase production of covicin. Apart from this, efforts are also being made for Sputnik.
Moderna had said in October 2020 that she would not sue any company that makes her vaccine, but not a single company has done so. This shows that licensing is not a problem. If the vaccine was so easy to make, why would there be such a shortage of vaccine doses even in developed countries?
Myth 5: The Center has relinquished its responsibility to the states
Fact: The central government is carrying out all kinds of essential tasks, from funding the companies making vaccines, to approving them expeditiously to speed up production to bring foreign vaccines to India. The vaccine purchased by the Center is sent to the people without any money. On the request of the states, the Government of India had approved them to purchase the vaccine themselves. However, the global tender has not yielded many results and it also confirms that we have been telling the states since day one that there is a small supply of vaccines in the world and it is not easy to buy them in a short time.
Myth 6: The Center is not giving enough vaccines to the states
Fact: The Center is allocating adequate vaccines in a transparent manner to the states as per the set guidelines and the states are also being informed about the availability of the vaccine in advance. Soon the availability of vaccine is going to increase and more supply will be possible. In the non-government medium, the states are getting 25% dose and private hospitals are getting 25% dose. However, the difficulties and problems being faced by the states in giving these 25% doses to the people are greatly exaggerated.
Myth 7: The Center is not taking any steps to vaccinate children
Fact: So far, no country in the world is giving vaccines to children. Apart from this, the WHO has also not made any recommendations for vaccination of children. However studies have been done about the safety of vaccines in children, which is encouraging. Now soon the trials on children are going to start in India too. Decision will be taken by the scientists regarding vaccination of children only after sufficient data is available on the basis of tests.
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