Centre lobbied at WTO for access to foreign vaccines, but sat on licensing Covaxin for months

The Centre took more than six months to put its act together on the domestic front and shortlisted three PSUs only by April 2021 for the technology transfer of Covaxin.

s the delayed response to ramp up vaccine production by the Centre a reason why India is failing to timely vaccinate its youth? India Today TV has learned that the Government of India tied up with South Africa in October last year at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to propose relaxation in norms to ensure quick access to vaccines for developing countries.

On the other hand, the Centre took more than six months to put its act together on the domestic front and shortlisted three PSUs only by April 2021 for the technology transfer of Covaxin, which has been developed by the Bharat Biotech and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).


In October last year, India had teamed up with South Africa to seek a waiver from certain provisions of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS Agreement) with a view to facilitating wider access to technologies necessary for the production of vaccines and medicines.

In its appeal to the TRIPS Council, the Government of India had argued that intellectual property rights may hinder the rapid scaling up of manufacturing of affordable vaccines and medicines to patients, particularly in the developing world.

Licensing at last
While the Centre lobbied to get its hands on foreign vaccines, it did little to ramp up the production of homegrown vaccines. Since Serum Institute of India's Covishield was developed under the international partnership, invoking compulsory licensing involved legalities.

Also Read | Delhi runs dry of Covaxin stock for 18-44 age group, 100 centres to remain shut

However, there was no such issue with Covaxin. Serum Institute's capacity to manufacture 5 crore doses/month and Bharat Biotech's 90 doses/month were no match to India's mammoth vaccine demand. But Centre did not invoke compulsory licensing to facilitate its transfer of technology to allow eligible companies to produce the vaccine.

It was only after Covid-19 cases started spiraling in the first week of April that the Modi government began putting its act together and shortlisted three PSUs by mid-April for technology transfer.

Haffkine Corporation, a state PSE under the Government of Maharashtra will have a capacity of 2 crore doses/month by September. Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), Hyderabad, a facility under National Dairy Development Board and Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals Limited (BIBCOL) Bulandshahr, under Department of Biotechnology, Government of India will also be supported to prepare their facility to provide 1-1.5 crore doses/month by August-September 2021.

CMs demand more vaccine production
Over the past 24 hours, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh chief ministers have appealed to the Prime Minister to allow private companies to ramp up Covaxin production. In April, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had raised a similar demand in his letter to PM Narendra Modi.

Also Read | Parliament panel had asked govt to ramp up vaccine production in March

Prof Gaurav Vallabh, Congress spokesperson told India Today TV, “When the entire world was booking vaccines last year, our government was asking us to clap, our Prime Minister was saying we have defeated coronavirus. We have missed many trains and today if we increase capacity, it will not have an instant result. Due to this, we are seeing bodies floating in Ganga river today.”

Contesting the allegations, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “Biosafety level 3 is required to contain the virus, which is available with Bharat Biotech since the formula is based on an alive virus, ICMR is also in talks with few other companies to scale up production.”

Patra added, “The Centre has allocated Rs 200 crore for supporting the augmentation of capacities for manufacturing. India will be producing 10 crore Covaxin doses per month by end of this year.”

https://www.indiatoday.in/coronavirus-outbreak/story/centre-lobbied-at-wto-for-foreign-vaccines-but-sat-on-covaxin-1801942-2021-05-13

Tags : #CentralGovernment #Covaxin #ForeignCovidVaccines #ICMR #BharatBiotech #SerumInstitute

About the Author


Team Medicircle

Related Stories

Loading Please wait...

-Advertisements-




Trending Now

Sanmarg Auto++: Revolutionizing Mobility at Kolkata’s Biggest Auto FairMarch 22, 2025
39th Prof. M. Viswanathan Oration Highlights Strategies to Prevent Diabetic Foot AmputationsMarch 22, 2025
Catapulting funding crisis into opportunity by getting on track to end TB and tobacco useMarch 22, 2025
University of Leeds Opens Applications for MSc in Sustainable Agriculture & Food Production for Indian StudentsMarch 21, 2025
Crompton Reimagines Lighting with Launch of INFINIA - 20% Extra Brightness & SlimO - Ultra-Sleek Appeal!March 21, 2025
March 21, 2025
World Down Syndrome Day: Why India is Still Failing Its Special ChildrenMarch 21, 2025
The Digital Delusion: How Social Media Is Rewiring Your RealityMarch 21, 2025
Can Giving Blood Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease and Diabetes? Find OutMarch 21, 2025
Embracing Extra Chromosomes: Individuals with Down Syndrome face health challenges, stigma, and limited care, but early intervention and inclusion can transform their livesMarch 20, 2025
Why Doctors May Soon Prescribe Walks in the Park Instead of PillsMarch 20, 2025
Today some of the LIC agents met the Hon’ble Leader of Opposition and raised certain issues.March 20, 2025
Sarvodaya Healthcare, in partnership with Oncidium Foundation, becomes India’s first to offer Nuclear Therapy for cancer patientsMarch 20, 2025
Sarvodaya Healthcare, in partnership with Oncidium Foundation, becomes India’s first to offer Nuclear Therapy for cancer patientsMarch 20, 2025
Think Alcohol Is Bad for You? New Research Might Prove You WrongMarch 20, 2025
Lilly Launches Mounjaro® (tirzepatide), offering a new option for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetesMarch 20, 2025
How can we leave those behind who are at higher TB risk?March 20, 2025
The Global Tuberculosis Fight: Why Prevention Holds Key to EradicationMarch 20, 2025
Chew Your Way to a Sharper Mind: The Surprising Brain Hack No One Told You AboutMarch 20, 2025
Danger of substandard and falsified medical products is real and growingMarch 19, 2025