Centre, Pfizer Working Together For Earliest Possible Import Of COVID-19 Vaccine, Says Govt's Expert Panel Head V K Paul

The Centre has eased the entry of Covid vaccines approved by US, European, UK and Japanese drug regulators and WHO's Emergency Use Listing into India and also waived off the trial requirement for the well-established International vaccine manfactures, NITI Aayog member Dr V K Paul said while addressing several myths doing rounds in India on COVID vaccination.

"The Central government has proactively eased entry of vaccines approved by US FDA, EMA, UK's MHRA and Japan's PMDA, and WHO's Emergency Use Listing into India in April. These vaccines will not need to undergo prior bridging trials," said Dr Paul, who is also the chair of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC), according to an official release.

"The provision has now been further amended to waive off the trial requirement altogether for the well-established vaccines manufactured in other countries," he said, adding that no application of any foreign manufacturer for approval is pending with the drugs controller.

Highligting facts about the Centre's initiatives to procure vaccines from abroad, Paul said the central government has remained engaged continuously with all the major international vaccine manufacturers right from mid-2020.

"Multiple rounds of discussions have happened with Pfizer, J&J and Moderna. The government offered all assistance to have them supply or manufacture their vaccines in India," he added.

He said that vaccines are in limited supply globally, and companies have their own priorities, game-plans and compulsions in allocating finite stocks.

"They also give preference to countries of their origin just as our own vaccine makers have done unhesitatingly for us," he said.

Dr Paul further said that as soon as Pfizer indicated vaccine availability, Central government and the company are working together for the earliest possible import of the vaccine.

He also requested all International vaccine makers to "come and make in India – for India and for the world".