The shortage of vaccine doses is haunting India. The vaccine shortage has resulted in a slowdown of the vaccine drive. As a result, India is exploring all the possible options to get the vaccine doses from other countries.
The Indian government, which was firm on allowing the emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine, during the first wave changed its way after the second wave had started in India.
Making a big u-turn, the Indian government back in April this year announced that the framework for the clinical trials in the country would be eased. Even the changes in the framework didn’t help India in procuring the vaccines.
India has to wait for a long period as the orders for Pfizer and Moderna are full till 2023. Pfizer and Moderna already have orders from the United States and the European Union.
Back in February, the drug regulator in India refused to grant emergency use authorisation for Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine, while several other nations have granted the permission. Following this, Pfizer had pulled back its application.
Two months later, things went upside down and the Covid situation forced the Indian government to make a change in the framework. The two pharma giants have full bookings that even months after easing the framework, no deal was made to buy the vaccines reportedly.
Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary in the Union Health Ministry said that the government has been coordinating with the pharma giants at the centre level but the companies’ orders were booked already.
He went on to say that, it depends on the surplus level of stocks both the pharma giants have. Based on that, the vaccine will reach India. Once they reach India, the same will be supplied to the states.
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