Let's Keep Politics Out Of The Vaccines
By A Special Correspondent
First publised on 2021-01-04 07:25:40
About the Author
It is unfortunate that the opposition leaders are playing politics over the Covid vaccines. Particularly disgusting was Akhilesh Yadav's remark that these vaccines are "BJP vaccines". Does he have a "Samajvadi vaccine" instead? The Congress has raised valid points about the permission granted to the Bharat Biotech vaccine as its stage three trials are not complete, but the government has replied that due to the public health emergency, Covaxin has been kept as a backup and the permission is on "clinical trial basis".
These are extraordinary times and the solutions also have to be extraordinary. No vaccine can be developed so fast. But the health industry put in its best efforts to produce several vaccines without cutting corners in a way that could have affected the health and well being of the public. Since the Oxford vaccine was passed by health authorities in the UK who have the stricter parameters, it is good that it was passed by the Indian authorities too. Still, watch needs to be kept about the dosage to be administered. As for the Bharat Biotech vaccine, keeping it as backup does no harm and the phase 3 trials can be conducted simultaneously in the meantime.
The vaccine developers will have to submit details of any adverse effect to the drug regulator every 15 days. This is the main condition of emergency use approval. A factsheet with safety details will also be provided to those receiving the first lot of vaccines. These crucial steps have to be taken as the approvals were expedited in view of the public health emergency and the vaccinations will be conducted in a "clinical trial mode". There is nothing wrong with such a permission in these troubled times.
The opposition must steer clear of bad mouthing the vaccines or the government's efforts in providing the population with a shield against the virus. At times like these, the opposition can keep a strict watch over the process but should do nothing to make the government junk it. It is not as if the government is cutting corners to show itself in good light. It is just following scientifically established procedures. Yes it is the duty of the opposition to point out the government's failings. But nitpicking in times of health emergencies is not done and the opposition must steer clear of that.
