Vaccinations are not a political or business opportunity, Congress tells govt; questions policy over prices

The Congress on Sunday questioned the government over its policy regarding the prices of the Covishield and Covaxin doses and the Centre's decision to allow the exports of one of the vaccines before immunising everyone in the country.

In a press statement, chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that vaccinations are an "important public service and not a political or business opportunity".

"Vaccine development and mass immunization are neither ‘events’ nor ‘publicity stunts’ but important milestones in the service of the people. While the country stands united in providing immunization against Coronavirus to our frontline corona warriors i.e. doctors, health workers, police Personnel and others, let remember that vaccinations are an important public service and not a political or business opportunity," he said.

Surjewala pointed out that the country had witnessed several mass vaccination drives initiated by the Congress governments after attaining independence. “The post-Independence history of modern India is witness to the Indian National Congress and its governments imbibing scientific research and adopting a policy of mass vaccination to demolish widespread superstition and fight diseases like Tuberculosis, Smallpox, Polio, Leprosy, Measles, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Cholera, Meningitis and Encephalitis among others,” he said.

He said that the government needed to answer important questions about the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination drive. "Who will get free Corona vaccine? How many people will get free Corona vaccine? Where will you get free Corona vaccine?" he asked, pointing out that the government's order for the vaccine doses will be inadequate.

Surjewala also asked why the government was paying Rs 95 more to Bharat Biotech for a vaccine that has been "developed with the expertise and experience of scientists of government-owned ICMR". "Why should Modi government pay more for a vaccine that has only been tested on 755 individuals and is yet to be cleared after Phase II trials? Should the price of such a vaccine not be cheaper than the AstraZeneca-Serum Institute?" he said.

He also questioned the price of Covishield made by Serum Institute of India (SII) in the open market, citing its CEO Adar Poonawalla’s statement that they will sell it for Rs 1,000 per dose in the open market, which comes to Rs 2,000 for 2 doses required for every individual.

"Isn't Modi government duty-bound to ensure purchase of Covishield doses at Rs 200 per dose? When AstraZeneca has promised supply of the vaccine "at no profit", why is SII being permitted to charge Rs 1,000 per dose?” Surjewala said.

He also questioned the government’s permission to SII to allow the export of its vaccine without immunisation of India's population.

Here are the highlights of the press statement:

The entire Nation salutes the wisdom, grit and hard-work of our toiling scientists, chemists & researchers, who have worked tirelessly to develop the Corona Vaccine in a record time. The Nation owes a debt of gratitude to them.

The post-Independence history of Modern India is witness to the Indian National Congress & its Governments imbibing scientific research and adopting a policy of mass vaccination to demolish widespread superstition and fight diseases like Tuberculosis, Smallpox, Polio, Leprosy, Measles, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Cholera, Meningitis and Encephalitis among others.

A few milestones of India’s vaccination and indigenous vaccine production policy:

* National Tuberculosis Control Program (1962), National Smallpox Eradication Program (1962), Immunization as part of 20 Point Program (1975), Universal Immunization Program (1985), Immunization as part of the National Technology Missions (1986), National Leprosy Eradication Program (1986) & National Vaccine Policy (2011) have formed the cornerstone of vaccination.

* Universal Immunization Program (1985) was started by Shri Rajiv Gandhi with vaccinations for six diseases – BCG – Tuberculosis; OPV – Polio; DPT – Diphtheria, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Tetanus; Measles.

* The commitment of Govt.& determination of our scientists led to India becoming ‘Smallpox-Free’ in 1977, ‘Leprosy-Free’ in 2005, ‘Polio-Free’ in 2011 andcontrol over Cholera & TB.

* The sheer commitment of our Govt & determination of our scientists have made India a success story, surpassing developed Nations in Indigenous Vaccine development & production.

To name a few -: Liquid BCG (TB) Vaccine became available for Mass Campaign in 1951. Live Smallpox Vaccine became available in 1965. Oral Polio Vaccine was produced in 1970, Measles Vaccine in 1980, Hepatitis-B Vaccine in 1997. Novel H1N1 Vaccine was developed in 2009, Oral Cholera Vaccine in 2010& Indigenous Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine was developed in 2012.

‘Vaccine Development’ & ‘Mass Immunization’ were neither ‘Events’ or ‘Publicity Stunts’, but important milestones in the ‘service of the people’. While the country stands united in providing immunization against Corona Virus to our Frontline ‘Corona Warriors’ i.e., Doctors, Health Workers, Police Personnel & others, let us remember that vaccinations are an important ‘Public Service’ and not a ‘Political or Business Opportunity’.

PM Shri Narendra Modi & BJP Govt needs to answer important questions -:

1. ‘Who’, ‘How’ & ‘Where’ of Free Corona Vaccine?

Who will get Free Corona Vaccine? How many people will get Free Corona Vaccine? Where will you get Free Corona Vaccine?

As per India’s Drug Controller Shri V.G Somani; Modi Govt has ordered 16.5 million (165 lakhs) doses of Corona Vaccine (5.5 million Covaxin & 11 million Covishield). At 2 doses per person, this would cover 82.50 lakhs, although Govt. claims it will cover 3 Crore people in first round.

PM & Modi Govt are refusing to answer as to how will the remaining population of India i.e., 135 Crores citizens will get Corona Vaccine as also whether the vaccine will be free for them?

Does the Modi Govt not realise that proportion of people of India classified as poor or BPL (Below Poverty Line) is 28% (UNDP)? Is the Govt not aware that even as per 2011 census, 31 crore of India’s population comprises of SC/STs? Is the Govt not aware that nearly 41% of India’s population comprises of the Backward Classes? Is the Govt not aware that 81.35 crore people are eligible for subsidised ration under Food Security Act (PIB Press Release Dated 19th July, 2019)?

Will the SC, ST, BC, OBC, BPL, APL, Poor & underprivileged get the CoronaVaccine free or not? If yes, what is the roll-out plan & by when would the Govt ensure Free Vaccination?

On 24th October 2020, BJP as also Finance Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman promised ‘Free Corona Vaccine’ to the entire population of Bihar as part of their election manifesto promise. On 31st October 2020, PM Modi assured the Nation that everyone will get vaccine. On 2ndJan, 2021; Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan promised free vaccines and later backtracked. Now, Modi Govt is refusing to commit as to who will / will-not get ‘Free Corona Vaccine’.

2. Pricing of ‘Covishield&Covaxin’?

(i) ‘Covishield’ is ‘AstraZeneca AZ Vaccine’ manufactured by ‘Serum Institute of India – SII. Serum Institute is supplying this vaccine at ₹200/dose to Govt of India. AstraZeneca has committed to supplying the vaccine “at no profit”.(https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/articles/2020/astrazeneca-takes-next-steps-towards-broad-and-equitable-access-to-oxford-universitys-potential-covid-19-vaccine.html)

As per Belgium’s Minister, Eva De Bleeker, the cost of AstraZeneca vaccine for them is EUR 1.78 (US$2.18) i.e., ₹158.(https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/18/belgian-minister-accidentally-tweets-eus-covid-vaccine-price-list)

Simple Question is – Why should our Govt pay more i.e. ₹200 for AstraZeneca Vaccine to Serum Institute of India, more so in view of their promise to supply the vaccine “at no profit”?

(ii) ‘Covaxin’ is manufactured by ‘Bharat Biotech’. Covaxin is being supplied at ₹295/dose to Govt of India. Admittedly, Covaxin has been developed by Bharat Biotech in partnership with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).( https://www.bharatbiotech.com/covaxin.html)

Also, ‘Covaxin’ has been approved after undergoing trials in Phase I on 375 participants & in Phase II on 380 participants, i.e., a total of 755 participants. Phase III trials are still awaited.(https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bharat-biotech-gets-nod-to-move-to-phase-2-trials-of-prospective-covid-19-vaccine-covaxin/story-c0HnPtqnozAtBf1sYmIjWO.html)