The Indian Panorama

Tag: Covishield

  • Indian American Lawmaker Welcomes US Government Decision

    Indian American Lawmaker Welcomes US Government Decision

    WASHINGTON (TIP):  An Indian American Democratic lawmaker on Monday, April 26,  welcomed the US government’s decision to provide material and healthcare help to India in its fight against a spike in COVID-19 cases, but said this is “no time for symbolism” or “lip service” and the Joe Biden administration must act now.

    India is struggling with a second wave of the pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past few days, and hospitals in several states are reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds. “The Biden administration’s commitment that it will export raw materials for the Indian manufacturer of the Covishield vaccine is a welcome decision,” Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said.

    “However, this is no time for symbolism, half-measures or lip service. We must act now,” he asserted.

    The Biden administration had come under criticism from several quarters, including from members and supporters of the Democratic Party, for not releasing surplus COVID-19 vaccines to India when the country was experiencing its worst-ever public health crisis. India had urged the US to supply the raw materials for manufacturing the Covishield vaccine. Following the criticism, US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan in a telephonic call with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on Sunday affirmed America’s solidarity with India.

    After the phone call, Emily Horne, spokesperson of the US NSA, underlined that America is “working around the clock” to deploy available resources and supplies and has “identified sources of specific raw material urgently required for Indian manufacturer of the Covishield vaccine that will immediately be made available for India”.

    Mr Krishnamoorthi, who is also the chair of the Oversight Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, said it is imperative that the US government double down on its commitment by exporting these materials expeditiously, by opening its stockpile of AstraZeneca vaccines currently sitting unused on shelves.

    He said the US government should also follow the actions of other countries this weekend by shipping medical supplies, including oxygen concentrators, to help treat COVID-19 victims in India and other nations hardest-hit by the deadly virus. India logged a record of 3,52,991 new coronavirus infections in a day on Monday, taking its total tally of COVID-19 cases to 1,73,13,163. The death count increased to 1,95,123 with a record 2,812 daily new fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

    “The Lend-Lease Act of World War II states that America could lend or lease supplies to any nation deemed vital to the defense of the US. This is no different. We are fighting a war together with India, Argentina and others. We can only defeat COVID-19 by defeating it everywhere. Our success in ending this pandemic hinges on the leadership of the US and our ability to help allies in need,” said Krishnamoorthi, who also serves on the House Oversight Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

    Meanwhile, Ro Khanna, another Democratic Indian American Congressman, said international cooperation and humanitarian assistance are the hallmarks of a truly progressive foreign policy.

    “In the face of apocalyptic numbers of COVID-19 cases and new variants exploding in India, I applaud the Biden administration’s decision to put people over profits and provide additional Personal Protective Equipment, oxygen and other medical supplies to India,” he said.

    Mr. Khanna said he is pleased to see the USAID’s (United States Agency for International Development) work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expedite the mobilization of emergency resources for India through the Global Fund.

    “This must be done with the utmost speed and urgency,” he said, adding that the Biden administration can still do more, like give India its stockpile of AstraZeneca vaccines that won’t be used in the US.

    The government should facilitate the Indian community in America to help assist hospitals in India. It can also call on Pfizer and Moderna to provide an intellectual property waiver for six months to a year as India grapples with this health crisis, Mr. Khanna said.

    “The White House should also convene Indian business leaders to make the case for why this is in these companies” long-term strategic interest. Many Indian American business leaders such as Vinod Khosla are happy to make the case to them why this is a good business decision,” he said.

    The Democratic lawmaker noted that Khosla has committed to financially help any hospitals in India in need of supplies and will also be speaking with the India Caucus leadership to discuss what else can be done to assist.

    “This is a very tough time for the Indian people and underscores the continued threat of COVID-19. These new strains of the virus are gravely alarming and could pose a threat here in America and across the globe if we do not do all we can to contain the virus and its new variants,” Mr Khanna said.

    US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy said the aid extended by the US to India includes raw material for vaccine production, therapeutics, rapid diagnostic kits, ventilators, oxygen generation and related supplies, financial support for vaccine manufacturing expansion and deployment of American public health teams.

    “This is an important step forward,” Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said, thanking Joe Biden for recognizing that “our fates” are all tied together.

  • Serum Institute fixes Covishield price at Rs 600/dose for private hospitals, Rs 400 for state govts

    New Delhi (TIP): The Serum Institute of India (SII) has announced that it will price its Covishield vaccine at Rs 600 per dose for private hospitals and Rs 400 per dose for state governments.

    In a statement, SII has said, “For the next two months, we will address the limited capacity by scaling up the vaccine production. Going ahead, 50% of our capacities will be served to the Government of India’s vaccination program, and the remaining 50% of the capacity will be for the state governments and private hospitals.”

    Comparing the prices with the other vaccines in the world, SII has stated that while American vaccines are priced at Rs 1,500, Russian and Chinese vaccines would cost Rs 750 per dose, making Covishield a cheaper option.

    However, the vaccine price will remain at Rs 150 per dose for the Centre.

    In an order earlier this week, the Centre said all above 18 years of age are eligible for vaccination from May 1. As it liberalised the vaccination drive, the government allowed states, private hospitals and industrial establishments to procure the vaccine doses directly from manufacturers.

    Of the 12.76 crore vaccine doses administered so far, the Covishield comprises over 90% of the vaccine doses, according to government data on Wednesday. Of this, 15 states and union territories have only given Covishield.

    Sonia demands uniform price

    Congress president Sonia Gandhi wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, April 22,  questioning how the government could allow “brazen profiteering from people’s misery” as she demanded a re-evaluation of the Centre’s modified vaccination policy and a uniform price for vaccines.

    Gandhi questioned how the same vaccine manufactured by SII could have three different prices. She added there was no rationale or justification to this “arbitrary distinction”.

    “At a time when medical resources are scarce, hospital beds are unavailable, oxygen supply and availability of essential medicine is dwindling rapidly, why is your Government allowing a policy that reeks of such insensitivity,” she said.

    Gandhi accused the government of abdicating its responsibility of providing free vaccination to people in the age group of 18 to 45. “This is [a] complete abandonment of the Government’s responsibility towards our youth.” She reiterated the allocation to state governments should be “transparent and equitable, in line with the spirit of cooperative federalism”.