Poonawalla bats for vaccine makers, demands indemnifier against lawsuits It is because when frivolous claims come up, scepticism sets in
Vaccine manufacturers need to have protection against all lawsuits for their vaccines especially during a pandemic, Serum Institute of India (SII) Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla has said.
He also said that the vaccine makers are going to propose this to the government, while speaking at a virtual panel on the challenges of developing a Covid-19 vaccine at the Carnegie India s Global Technology Summit on Friday. We need to have the government indemnify manufacturers, especially vaccine manufacturers, against all lawsuits. In fact, COVAX and other countries have already started talking about that, Poonawalla said.
SII CEO Adar Poonawalla
Twitter/ @adarpoonawalla
Serum Institute of India (SII) chief executive officer Adar Poonawalla wants makers of covid-19 vaccines to be indemnified from liability in case there are any serious adverse effects or any other claims to their shots during a pandemic.
Making his comments during a virtual panel discussion on the challenges to vaccine development, he said his company plans to propose this to the government. Poonawalla was speaking at Carnegie Indiaâs Global Technology Summit held on Friday.
Expressing his concerns, he said that such issues could increase fear against getting vaccinated, also âbankrupt or distractâ companies making these shots.
Highlights
Serum Institute of India s Adar Poonawalla has urged the government to protect vaccine manufacturers against lawsuits and claims.
Poonawalla said that claims invite skepticism and that hampers the chances of rolling out the said vaccine.
The government needs to step in to spread the right information, he argued.
New Delhi: The Chief Executive Officer of Serum Institute of India (SII) Adar Poonawalla expressed his concerns about lawsuits and claims filed against vaccine makers. He urged the government to protect vaccine manufacturers against all lawsuits especially during a pandemic.
While addressing an online panel on the challenges of developing a
Vaccine manufacturers need to have protection against all lawsuits for their vaccines especially during a pandemic, Serum Institute of India (SII) Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla has said. He also said that the vaccine makers are going to propose this to the government, while speaking at a virtual panel on the challenges of developing a Covid-19 vaccine at the Carnegie India s Global Technology Summit on Friday. We need to have the government indemnify manufacturers, especially vaccine manufacturers, against all lawsuits. In fact, COVAX and other countries have already started talking about that, Poonawalla said. It is because when frivolous claims come up, and something is blown out of proportion in the media, skepticism sets in that definitely something can happen due to the vaccine and to dispel that, the government needs to step in to spread the right information, he added.
Government must indemnify vaccine makers against all lawsuits: Adar Poonawalla
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Last Updated: Dec 19, 2020, 06:22 PM IST
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Synopsis
Last month, Serum had rejected charges that a 40-year-old man who took part in the Covishield vaccine trial in Chennai had levelled against the company, alleging serious side effects, including a virtual neurological breakdown and impairment of cognitive functions.
Reuters
Serum Institute of India (SII) Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla
NEW DELHI: Vaccine manufacturers need to have protection against all lawsuits for their vaccines especially during a pandemic, Serum Institute of India (SII) Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla has said.
He also said that the vaccine makers are going to propose this to the government while speaking at a virtual panel on the challenges of developing a COVID-19 vaccine at the Carnegie India s Global Technology Summit on Friday.