National News

Covaxin Manufacturers to Compensate if the Vaccine has Adverse Effects on Recipients

Two vaccines, Covaxin and Covishield have been approved for emergency use in the country. The COVID-19 vaccination drive started in the country on Saturday

Sentinel Digital Desk

Hyderabad: The India-made COVID-19 vaccine – COVAXIN is among the two vaccines which got approval for emergency use in the country.

As the vaccine Covaxin is hailed as a game-changer by the Indian government, the vaccine manufacturer Bharat Biotech said that they will compensate if the vaccine causes any side effects or adverse effects to the recipients.

The central government has given an order of 55 lakh doses of Covaxin to the manufacturer. The manufacturer, Bharat Biotech said in a consent form, "In case of any adverse events or serious adverse events, you will be provided with a medically recognised standard of care in the government designated and authorised centres/hospitals. The compensation for serious adverse event will be paid by the sponsor (BBIL) in case if the SAE is proven to be causally related to the vaccine."

The form will be signed by the vaccine recipients. During Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials, the vaccine has shown the ability to produce antidotes against the deadly coronavirus.

Concerned about the Covaxin vaccine's lack of complete trial, the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Delhi, requested the medical superintendent to vaccinate them with Covishield vaccine and not Covaxin, through a letter.

The letter stated, "The residents are a bit apprehensive about the lack of complete trial in case of Covaxin and might not participate in huge numbers thus defeating the purpose of vaccination. We request you to vaccinate us with Covishield which has completed all stages of trial before its roll-out."

The world's largest vaccination drive started in our country on January 16. The first priority is being given to the health workers and frontline workers. The Health Minister of Telangana Eatala Rajender, who had earlier declared that he would take the first vaccine shot, backed out saying that he would follow the strict instruction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that health workers (Covid warriors) should be first ones to be vaccinated.