Govt to pay Rs 1500 crores in advance for 30 crore anti Covid doses to Biological E, Hyderabad to be supplied in August

in view of complaints and accusations by various opposition leaders with regard to shortage of vaccines, with, till now only four crore population vaccinated in India with double doses n 20 crores with single dose, the union government is making sincere efforts to arrange vaccines from various quarters including extending invitations to foreign pharmaceutical companies like Oxford manufacturing Pfizer n several other companies assuring them of full indemnity.

Several leaders and state governments including Congress chief Rahul Gandhi have been levelling charges of negligence and delays in supplying vaccines to opposition ruled states with Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejrival most vocal complaining of step motherly treatment by the centre.

The Supreme Court of India had also expressed its serious concern on this front and has asked the government to be quite serious on vaccinating all sections of the society.

Even yesterday, the apex court court’s order has termed vaccine policy for 18 to 45 years of people as arbitrary and irrational.

In its order the supreme court said : The liberalised policy of the govt on vaccination conflicts with the constitutional balance of responsibilities between the centre and the states.

It further adds that due to the importance of vaccinating individuals in the age group of 18 to 44, the policy of the central government for conducting free vaccination themselves for age groups under the first two phases and replacing it with paid vaccination by states n UTs and private hospitals for persons between 18 to 44 years is prima facie arbitrary, n irrational said the order led by justice Dhanjay Y Chandrachud.

Meanwhile, the union ministry of health has finalised arrangements with Hyderabad based vaccine manufacturer Biological-E to reserve 30 crore of COVID-19 vaccine doses.

According to union health ministry these vaccine doses will be manufactured and stockpiled by M/s Biological-E from August-December 2021.

For this purpose, the Union Ministry of Health would be making an advance payment of Rs. 1500 crore to M/s Biological-E.It added that the COVID-19 vaccine of Biological-E is currently undergoing Phase-3 clinical trial after showing promising results in Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials.

The vaccine being developed by Biological-E is a RBD protein sub-unit vaccine and is likely to be available in the next few months.

The proposal of M/s Biological-E was examined and recommended for approval after due diligence by National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVA)

Union Ministry of Health has finalised arrangements with Hyderabad based vaccine manufacturer Biological-E to reserve 30 crore of COVID-19 vaccine doses.

These vaccine doses will be manufactured and stockpiled by M/s Biological-E from August-December 2021. For this purpose, the Union Ministry of Health would be making an advance payment of Rs. 1500 crore to M/s Biological-E.

The COVID-19 vaccine of Biological-E is currently undergoing Phase-3 clinical trial after showing promising results in Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. The vaccine being developed by Biological-E is a RBD protein sub-unit vaccine and is likely to be available in the next few months.

The proposal of M/s Biological-E was examined and recommended for approval after due diligence by National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVA).

Pic Courtsey : First nation Health Authority