A day after engaging in a war of words over the efficacy of coronavirus jabs, the vaccine manufacturing firms, Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech on Tuesday apparently buried the differences by issuing a joint statement in which the duo pledged to work jointly on the vaccine rollout project.
“Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech Jointly communicate their pledge towards a smooth rollout of Covid-19 vaccines in India and the world,” read the statement signed by SII CEO Adar Poonawala and Bharat Biotech Chairman Krishna Ella on behalf of the two companies communicating their combined intent to develop, manufacture and supply the Covid-19 vaccines in India and abroad.
“Vaccines are a global public health good and have the power to save lives and accelerate the return to economic normalcy at the earliest,” said the statement.
They said now that two vaccines have been issued EUA (emergency use authorisation) in India, the focus is on manufacturing, supply and distribution so that populations that need them the most receive high quality, safe and efficacious ones.
“Both our companies are fully engaged in this activity and consider it our duty to the nation and the world at large to ensure a smooth rollout of vaccines. Each of our companies continue their Covid-19 vaccines development activities as planned,” the statement said.
They said they are fully aware of the importance of the vaccines for people and countries alike. “We hereby communicate our joint pledge to provide global access for our Covid-19 vaccines.”
The joint statement follows a tweet by Poonawala on Tuesday afternoon: “I would like to clarify two matters; as there is confusion in the public domain, exports of vaccines are permitted to all countries and a joint public statement clearing up any recent miscommunication with regards to Bharat Biotech will be made.”
Taking strong exception to Poonawala’s Monday’s jibe that except three all other vaccines were like water, Dr Ella had lashed out at him as well as his detractors criticising the fast-track granting of EUA to his vaccine Covaxin.
However, the Progressive Medicos and Scientists Forum, a national association of doctors and scientists, was not impressed. The Forum said it suspects that clearance granted to the vaccines by the DCGI shows that profit and political gains have taken precedence over science.
In a statement, the group said, “India was quick to criticise China and Russia for emergency approvals without efficacy data but failed to exercise diligence when its turn arrived.”
