If a Reuters report is anything to go by, the Indian government has delayed its supply for the COVAX program as global health body World Health Organisation (WHO) continues to delay the process of granting emergency use authorization (EUA) to Covaxin, developed by India’s homegrown Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech.
Citing two sources, the report stated that WHO could not “cut corners” to approve a domestically developed vaccine. However, by delaying the vaccine supply, India has sent a subtle reciprocal message to WHO for its opaque working during the approval process which has unnecessarily stretched by months.
WHO and its dillydallying attitude
As reported by TFI, WHO chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan on Sunday (October 17) took to Twitter to inform that the technical advisory group, entrusted with the task to EUA to Covaxin delayed its meeting and will now be sitting next week to decide the future course of action.
The technical advisory group will meet on Oct 26th to consider EUL for #Covaxin. @WHO has been working closely with @BharatBiotech to complete the dossier. Our goal is to have a broad portfolio of vaccines approved for emergency use & to expand access to populations everywhere https://t.co/lqQIyqItF9
— Soumya Swaminathan (@doctorsoumya) October 17, 2021
It is pertinent to note that WHO and an independent group of experts were scheduled to meet earlier this month to conduct the risk/benefit assessment and come to a final decision on whether to grant approval to Covaxin or not. However, akin to the last few months, the global health body continued its dilly-dallying attitude and stalled the meeting.
WHOs dripping vaccine racism
Such has been the racist overtone in denying Covaxin the approval that despite submitting additional info regarding the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, WHO has not been able to arrive at a decision.
Earlier this month, WHO had informed about Bharat Biotech submitting the data, “Covaxin manufacturer, Bharat Biotech, has been submitting data to WHO on a rolling basis & submitted additional info at WHO’s request on 27 September. WHO experts are currently reviewing this info & if it addresses all questions raised, WHO assessment will be finalized next week”
WHO & an independent group of experts are scheduled to meet next week to carry out the risk/benefit assessment and come to a final decision whether to grant Emergency Use Listing to Covaxin.#COVID19pic.twitter.com/jJyS1hiz44
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) October 5, 2021
WHO approved Chinese vaccine in 10 days
Moreover, WHO claiming that it cannot cut corners to give authorization to any ‘domestically developed vaccine’ is sanctimonious hogwash. It is the same WHO which had granted emergency approval to the Chinese vaccine ‘Sinopharm’ in record 10 days after holding an ornamental meeting.
The decision to approve Sinopharm’s vaccine was taken by WHO’s technical advisory group, which met on April 26 to review the clinical data and manufacturing practices of the vaccine. By May 7, it was announced that Sinopharm had been granted the approval. Compare that to the approval process of Covaxin and one can understand where WHOs allegiances lie.
One user wrote, “@WHO handed over EUL to Sinopharm within 10 days of meeting despite ‘very low level of confidence’ against VOCs n patchy data. EUL awarded based on interim data itself yet #Covaxin, which outperformed others against all variants, needs scrutiny.”
.@WHO handed over EUL to Sinopharm within 10 days of meeting despite 'very low level of confidence' against VOCs n patchy data. EUL awarded based on interim data itself yet #Covaxin, which outperformed others against all variants, needs scrutiny.https://t.co/DYAW7UFpvZ https://t.co/77nKg5MZtU pic.twitter.com/NuaR6ShXa1
— Aniiket (@aniiket0608) October 19, 2021
And before the doomsayers say that India’s delay in supply is eventually hurting the poor nations, they should understand that the Modi government in October resumed its flagship Vaccine Maitri initiative to reduce supply inequity in poorer nations. COVAX program might be receiving delayed supplies but the Modi government is directly dealing with smaller, poor countries and delivering the vaccine. One million shots of Covaxin were sent to Iran earlier this month. The Himalayan nation of Nepal has also received a generous tranche of the vaccine.
On January 20, India had started external supplies under Vaccine Maitri in the form of grant-in-aid and commercial sales, and through COVAX program, which is led by Gavi, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and WHO. Through COVAX program initiative, more than 6.63 crore doses were exported. And yet the WHO is adamant about discriminating against India.
Read More: India begins export of vaccines after vaccinating a mammoth 81 Crore Indians
WHO, a part of Pfizer, Moderna lobby
The world is desperate to break the duopoly of Pfizer and Moderna – the two mRNA vaccines. Reportedly, the Covid-19 death toll in the US this year is poised to surpass the number of fatalities in 2020.
The wave fuelled by the Delta variant is waning in the US, but daily infections are still hovering near 100,000 and more than 1,800 people are dying every day, on average. The US has only administered mRNA vaccines to its populace.
Moreover, the two mRNA vaccines are incredibly expensive which the poor, underdeveloped nations cannot afford. Covaxin is relatively cheaper and does not need the extreme logistical apparatus like the mRNA vaccines to be administered.
Moderna costs around $32 to $37 and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin costs merely 3$ to 5$. When we talk about compatibility, Covaxin is more storage-friendly than other vaccines. For instance, Pfizer needs to be kept in extremely cold temperatures of minus 70 degrees Celsius, the cost of which may go into billions, whereas Covaxin requires only 2-8 degrees Celsius cold chain which is much more viable for warm, developing and underdeveloped nations.
Read More: As India reports 81% efficacy of its vaccine, slander campaign to protect Big Pharma begins
Pfizer and Moderna want to expand their market in poor countries. However, allowing Covaxin would dent their plans of market capitalization and thus, the two pharmaceutical companies developing the mRNA vaccines are trying their best to not allow Covaxin to come into the free market.
In a battle against an invisible enemy, one billionth in size to humans, WHO is still using its platform for political gains of few nations and greedy capitalistic pharma giants. It’s a travesty that a noble pursuit like COVAX program has to suffer, but the blame has to be squarely coped by none other than WHO.
Good that finally India is standing up to the corrupt communist organizations and giving a befitting responses.
India keep up the good work.
These WHO is Slave of China and big American pharma companies.
Presently WHO director is a boot licker of communist country China,so by hook and kook their intention is clear not to entry covax in poor nation.GOI has the right policy to hold on supply of covaxin.
Finaly Our gvt giving befitting reply to WHO which they can understand.
The screws on WHO biases aren’t tight enough. Complete stoppage to WHO programs that India gets no credit is the only option.
I agree with the content of your article. But for God’s sake – why put the image of the PM on the caption ? The BJP is a well run political party – do not let it descend to personality oriented politics that would surely lead to ruin.
Modi is not the President of BJP. He is the Prime minister of India. Just like every major news about China has the image of Xi, likewise it has to be Modi’s image, not of a rag picker that the west tries to project. India is coming to the forefront, don’t be jealous of India’s progress. If you suffer from low self esteem, work on it. I do understand that there is a general perception that Indians are smart, but your statement surely proves otherwise.
Offer only covaxin for the”COVAX” initiative.Take it or leave it.WHO is bought by pharma lobby as well as China
This drama inspite of Saumya Swaminathan as the chief scientist.
Covaxin is a quality vaccine made in India with sufficient data . Unfortunately WHO now, is not a scientific body . It’s succumb under pressure of various giant pharma mafia who don’t want to auhunticate covaxin by WHO .
Objectively, Covaxin has higher efficacy and fewer side effects. Its
efficacy and potential may prove to be far superior in long run as
compared to the RNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. The latter may be
associated with certain potential neurodegenerative and genomic
adverse effects.
Some of WHO actions are pretentiously irrational, amounting to
being highly prejudiced against developing countries including
India.
Should India put a threat to quit from the global health body, as
it no longer cares for the common interest?
The gene therapy mRNA vaccines of Pfizer and Moderna are literal poison and should never ever be admitted in India.
Covaxin is probably relatively less harmful, but the risk harm benefit of mass vaccination of healthy people or even children with experimental vaccines that may lead to serious side effects or ADE (antibody-dependent enhancement of disease) must be evaluated.
Here is a good summary of the vaccines:
https://en.dharmapedia.net/wiki/Experimental_coronavirus_vaccines
TO WHOMSOEVER IT MAY BE OF CONCERN IN UNAITED NATIONS AND IN WHO,
I WOULD TERM THE STAND OF THE WHO UNDER UN AS THE MOST DISCRIMINATORY ONE BASED ON RACIAL PARAMETERS AND A COMPLETELY INHUMAN APPROACH WHICH, BY NATURE IS DEVOID OF THEIR SENSES OF PROPRITORY TO ACCEPT IT AS AN EFFECTIVE VACCINE IRRESPECTIVE OF WHERE, BY WHOM AND BY WHICH COUNTRY IT HAS BEEN RESEARCHED, DEVELOPED AND BROUGHT OUT IN USABLE COST EFFECTIVE FORM TO SERVE HUMANITY.
THEIR REJECTION IN SEEING THE INDIAN MEDICINAL DEVELOPMENT AS AN INFERIOR ONE ONLY PROVES THAT EVEN THOUGH LITERATES ARE HEADING UN AND WHO, IT SOUNDS TO BE AS THOUGH ILLITERATES ONLY ARE HEADING IT.
THIS IS NO TIME FOR REVENGE OR SARCASM BUT, A TIME TO BE UNITED, FLEXIBLE AND OPEN MINDED TOWARDS APPROVING A VACCINE IRRESPECTIVE OF IT’S ORIGIN. MANY IN INDIA HAVE USED “COVAXIN” AND ARE BEING PROTECTED WELL.
FURTHER IT SOUNDS ABSURD TO DISAPPROVE IT JUST BECAUSE OF THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT IN POWER (IF IT IS SO) WHICH, IS LEADING INDIA AHEAD IN A STEADFAST MANNER AND IS TRYING TO INCH ITSELF TOWARDS BEING A GOOD AND SUSTAINABLE ASIAN POWER IN EVERY MANNER.
“🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 JAI HIND, BHARATH MATHA KI JAI, VANDHE MATHARAM, HAIL INDIA AND INDIANS 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳”
I always thought WHO as an authentic reliable source of information but in recent past WHO most Irresponsibly dealing with pandemic seems to be influenced by super power like China and being puppet of pharma companies shedding crocodile tears for inequity to vaccine supply to low income countries
WHO is loosing its credibility with disastrous impact on global health care