After nearly a year of battling the COVID-19 Novel Corona Virus Pandemic, many companies have come up with vaccines to combat the deadly Virus! Countries the world over have authorised the emergency use of the vaccines approved by Pfizer-BioNTech & Moderna, with Russia approving the use of the Sputnik V vaccine, developed by the Gamaleya Institute & the Russian Direct Investment Fund! However, India has not yet approved the emergency use of any of these vaccines but sought to approve the usage of the two indigenously developed COVID vaccines - Covishield & Covaxin! Covaxin has been developed by Bharat Biotech, while Covishield has been developed by the Serum Institute of India, in association with AstraZeneca and the Oxford University!

Recently, the Drug Controller General of India had authorised the emergency use of these two COVID vaccines and the government had also announced that the first phase of the vaccination drive in India, would begin on January 16th! The vaccines are already being shipped to various parts of the country, to enable simultaneous kickstarting of the vaccination drive. Meanwhile, it has just come to light that the Central government of India has not provided indemnity to these vaccine manufacturers, for the Covishield and Covaxin shots! Sources in the know state that both Bharat Biotech and the Serum Institute of India will be held responsible and would be liable to pay for damages, in case of any adverse reactions to the vaccines. 

A report states that the Purchase Orders issued to both these vaccine manufacturers say that they shall be liable for all adversaries as per CDSCO/Drugs and Cosmetics Act/ DCGI Police/ Approval. The contract is also said to have a clause, mandating that the companies inform the government in case of serious adverse advents. Pfizer, which has gotten indemnity in the UK, is said to have sought the same for their vaccine in India too but we hear that providing indemnity is 'out of the question', in India. We hear that both Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute of India had appealed to consider the exceptional circumstances under which the vaccines have been developed and are said to have repeatedly requested for indemnity but the government is said to have taken a hard stance and refused it. Stay tuned for updates...