Controversy Swirls Around India’s Homegrown Covid Vaccine Bloomberg 2/3/2021
(Bloomberg)
A year ago, Krishna Ella was simply known for running a small Indian pharmaceutical company with a reputation for scientific rigor. Then came the pandemic that put the scientist and his family at the center of one of the world’s loudest furors over a coronavirus vaccine.
In June last year, India’s drug regulator permitted Ella’s firm Bharat Biotech International Ltd. to develop a homegrown vaccine in record time. Since then the company has been buffeted by controversies ranging from unrealistic government schedules to sporadic reports of adverse reactions. Matters came to a head last month after the government approved its shot before the completion of final human trials.
Image zoom Credit: STR/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock We have just received some distressing updates; upon further investigation we have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident, he said in the message. We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed, Poonawalla added.
The 40-year-old, whose father founded Serum Institute in 1966, said vaccine availability would not be affected by the deadly incident. I would like to reassure all governments & the public that there would be no loss of [the vaccine] production due to multiple production buildings that I had kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies at @SerumInstIndia, he tweeted. Thank you very much @PuneCityPolice & Fire Department.
Highlights
The hashtag LargestVaccineDrive has been trending on Twitter.
Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched India s COVID-19 vaccination programme, netizens on Saturday lauded the PM for the roll-out of the nationwide inoculation drive with the hashtag LargestVaccineDrive trending on Twitter.
Launching India s COVID-19vaccination drive, PM Narendra Modi reassured the country that emergency use authorisation was given to two made in India vaccines only after scientists were convinced of their safety and effectiveness, and urged people to beware of propaganda and rumours.
Addressing the nation ahead of the vaccine launch of what he described as the world s largest vaccination programme, PM Modi said these vaccines will ensure a decisive victory for the country over the coronavirus pandemic, but asked countrymen to continue wearing masks and maintain social distancing even after receiving the jabs.
Don’t fall to propaganda, says Modi NEW DELHI, Jan 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched India's COVID-19 vaccination drive while reassuring the
Netizens take to twitter to laud PM Modi on launching world s largest COVID vaccination drive
Narendra Modi reassured the country that emergency use authorisation was given only after scientists were convinced of their safety and effectiveness. (Image Source: ANI)
Updated: Jan 17, 2021, 12:40 AM IST
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the world s largest COVID-19 vaccination programme on Saturday, netizens took to the social media to laud the PM. The hashtag LargestVaccineDrive started trending on Twitter.
PM Narendra Modi, through video conference reassured the country that emergency use authorisation was given to two made in India vaccines only after scientists were convinced of their safety and effectiveness, and urged people to beware of propaganda and rumours.