Pfizer covid vaccine might not be rolled in India

Delay in Availability of Pfizer covid vaccine in India

Pfizer Covid vaccine developed by American pharma giant Pfizer which is 95 percent effective according to trial reports would be available in the first week of December in U.K. might not be available in India anytime soon. 

The developer of Covid vaccine American pharma giant Pfizer,  was cleared by  United Kingdom on Wednesday. Moreover showed 95 per cent vaccine effective in clinical trials against the Covid pandemic, is expected to get regulatory approval for distribution of vaccine to the public from the United Kingdom government very soon. The first injections could start from December 7.

In India, it might be difficult to roll out the vaccine because for a vaccine to be allowed in India it must first clear clinical trials here, sources stated that neither Pfizer nor its partner companies had asked to hold such trials for the Covid vaccine. This means that even if Pfizer partners with an Indian company, it will take more time for the vaccine to be available in the country for mass distribution. 

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has "discretionary power to waive localised clinical trials for a vaccine", sources said, but also observed that till date, all vaccines cleared by the DCGI had at least cleared limited Phase 3 trials of covid vaccine.

The India government did hold talks and discussed with Pfizer in August but there has been no development since, adding that in India the focus remains on five other plants, one developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and produced by the Pune-based Serum Institute.

Covishield, which is the head of the list of vaccine candidates, apparently to be rolled out in India, will be produced by the Serum Institute, which has committed to making at least 100 million doses available in couple of months that may be provided by the end of January and 100 million by the end of February, 2021.From Pune, Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla stated on Sunday that he would ask the centre  for an emergency use license within three weeks.

The AstraZeneca vaccine candidate and the one by Bharat Biotech, are being closely monitored together, particularly by poorer countries, since they are expected to be more cheaper and stable option.