It is time countries acted with a humanitarian approach at WTO and relaxed IPR provisions for Covid-19 vaccines. And it can be done without disincentivising R&D efforts.
In affidavits to SC, 9 states have said SII & Bharat Biotech have either expressed inability to supply the stock by May-end or said there will be staggered delivery over the next 2-3 months.
In a tweet Wednesday, Bharat Biotech Joint Managing Director Suchitra Ella said the company has already dispatched Covaxin lots to 18 states on 10 May.
Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said Covaxin manufacturer in a letter referred to instructions from govt officials and it means that central govt is controlling the vaccine supply.
Covaxin, indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research, is being used on adults in India's ongoing Covid vaccination drive.
Modi govt Friday said it had told states to prioritise second dose of Covid vaccines over first dose in a 70:30 ratio, in what may be its first admission about shortage of vaccines.
The move to cut the price from Rs 600 per dose follows widespread criticism of Bharat Biotech's pricing policy as it sold Covaxin to the central government at Rs 150 per dose.
The move comes after many states objected to different pricing of the vaccines, with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal saying this is not time for profiteering.
SII will supply 200 million doses and Bharat Biotech is to supply another 90 million doses to the government by July at a pre-agreed rate of Rs 150 per dose.
Countering insurgency needs the Pakistan Army to demonstrate a political will that ties leaders at the centre with those in the borderlands. But it may not have the imagination.
Centre for Science and Environment in new report makes case for rationalising GST on waste material, saying most informal operators can’t afford high tax & it also hinders recycling.
21st edition of annual joint military exercise will be held from 1 to 16 September, aimed at sharing military tech, operational best practices & disaster relief coordination methods.
Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.
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