Pfizer to supply COVID vaccine to India

Pfizer announces that it will supply its COVID – 19 vaccine to India only through government contracts :

Recently there has been news about the Indian government regarding the procuration of vaccines from foreign companies. This is due to media reports which claim that the government is exploring options to allow private players to do directly. Per sources, this is believed to shift the financial burden of costlier vaccines from the government to the private companies.

In response to these speculations, Pfizer has made a statement. It has claimed that it will supply its COVID – 19 only through government contracts and not through private players to India. Read: Pfizer COVID – 19 vaccine in India Update

The pharma giant further added that it would prioritize supporting governments in their immunization programs. It also stated that the company would supply the vaccines based on agreements with the respective government authorities. Pfizer will only do this after receiving the appropriate regulatory approval. ¹

In the United States, the cost of Pfizer’s COVID – 19 vaccine is around $ 40 ( Rs. 3000 ) for two doses. On the other hand, the price of the two COVID – 19 vaccines in India lies around Rs. 300. This estimated amount is the price of both the doses of either Covaxin or Covishield in India.

Indemnity bond and delay of vaccine’s entry in India

The Prime Minister of India has recently been taking drastic measures to tackle the aggressive second wave of COVID – 19 in India. One such measure involves actively inviting foreign pharma companies to bring their vaccines to India.

On 13 April 2021, the Indian government granted emergency licenses to a number of COVID – 19 vaccines. These vaccines were authorized in the US^[1], the UK^[2], Europe, Japan, or from the WHO^[3].

Despite this, the arrival of Pfizer’s vaccine in India could be delayed by several months. This is due to the company’s firm stand over signing the indemnity bond before agreeing to send the vaccines to India.

Read about

the Indian drug regulators gave the go-ahead for a couple of COVID vaccines. These vaccines will be used for the mass immunization programs. read about COVID Vaccination Program in India
Pfizer – BioNTech sought the USFDA to authorization its COVID – 19 vaccine. This was for the use of the vaccine for 12 to 15 years old in the United States. Pfizer seeks USFDA’s approval for COVID vaccine in adolescents
Chemically, a vaccine is any biological preparation that promotes an active acquired immune reaction to a pathogenic infection/disease in the human body. Read Vaccines: Definition, Action, and Development

Indemnity bonds are legal bonds that are intended for protecting the company from being sued. This is specially used to avoid such incidences when the vaccine ends up causing any side – effects.

An industry source revealed that Pfizer had signed this bond with every country to which it has been supplying its vaccine. He also stated that the discussion over the vaccine’s pricing with India will only happen after the country signs the indemnity bond.

In January 2021, an RTI^[4] application was filed questioning the Centre over issues such as indemnity bond. The Centre responded to this by claiming that it did not plan to indemnify or exempt any vaccine manufacturers from liability. The Centre specially mentioned this regarding situations where inoculation with the vaccine might result in the serious side – effects or adverse reactions.

As per sources, Pfizer’s withdrawal of its application for EUA^[5] of its vaccine in India was also related to this matter. The Indian government’s resistance to indemnity bonds is most likely why Pfizer withdrew its application at the beginning of 2021.